‘Are they? Well, I don’t know that I committed myself to anything from which I should wish to back out later. Indeed, I am not a fellow who is given to backing out of his promises--but then I make so few,’ he added, thoughtfully. ‘I simply told them I was afraid there were bad times coming, and that we must stand by each other in them. And I said a few words on politics.’ ‘My dear boy! how foolish! Excuse me, but it was. They are rabid Radicals, and have a prejudice against you already--one of their horrid, narrow-minded prejudices, and to mention that you were a Conservative would certainly not improve your situation.’ Sebastian looked a little surprised. ‘How odd it is! Why should I tell them I was a Conservative when I am a Radical? I spoke the truth of course.’ Not Mrs. Transome herself could have been more horrified at Harold’s declaration of his views than was Mrs. Mallory at this avowal by her son. She forgot to shade that complexion, which was not as the complexions of other women of six-and-forty. She laid her screen down, sat bolt upright, without the pretence of any amiability in her expression, and said sharply, ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself!’ ‘I am truly sorry that I cannot oblige you by feeling so.’ ‘You have no respect for your father, or your grandfather--for any of your forefathers,’ said she, sullenly. ‘Every man here who can boast of a grandfather, much more a man of good old family like yours, ought to be a Conservative out of pure self-respect. No! You have no respect for your ancestors or for yourself.’ ‘_Mon Dieu!_ I think I have as much respect for them as they deserve. Do you think ancestors are really of much use? But at least I have more respect for their memories than to imagine that they would wish me simply to sit down and hobnob with the first opinions that happened to be offered to me. Since I have inherited my name and my tendencies of mind from them, I must also have inherited my brains and my reasoning powers from them. I have an inquiring mind, a thing, my dear mother, which is not spontaneously generated, but developed.’ ‘That is wicked nonsense, Sebastian. I won’t allow it.’ ‘But you will allow me to explain my opinions to you, I am sure. That is always better, and saves so many misunderstandings.’ ‘I see without explanation that you are a renegade to your fathers, and have degraded yourself to the level of these horrid, insolent Radicals; yes, to the level of these grasping, dirty, presuming work-people. I hate them, Sebastian; I cannot tell you how I hate all Radicals. How can you refuse any of the demands of these odious people now, professing, as you do, their own opinions?’