"It would be the bitterest blow of my life if I failed," he said to young Ned Wilson and his father one night, on their return from one of their meetings. "I should never dare to put my foot in Brunford again, neither would Mary, if this young upstart got the better of us." "Never fear!" said young Ned. "I'll promise you he shall not win this election, Mr. Bolitho." A little later Mr. Wilson was called away to see someone, and Ned and Mr. Bolitho were left together. "You speak with great certainty, Ned," said Mr. Bolitho, who had come to address the young manufacturer with great freedom. "I do," replied Ned. "Mr. Bolitho, I'm a plain man, may I say something to you now?" "Say what you will, my lad!" "Well, then, I love your daughter, and I want to make her my wife. Will you let me have her?" "I don't know Mary's feelings about the matter," said Mr. Bolitho. "But supposing you win this election, will you do your best for me?" There was a kind of challenge in Ned's voice as he spoke. "I'll promise not to oppose you, anyhow." "No, that will not do," said Ned, and his voice became tremulous. "Look here, this is a tremendous business to me. I want you to understand that life, happiness, everything depends upon my being able to win Mary. With her I feel I could do great things. I could go into Parliament myself, ay, and make a name too. I'm not a fool, Mr. Bolitho. There are but few men who know more about Lancashire life than I do, I am intimately acquainted with every detail of Lancashire business, and although I ought not to say it, since I've been made a partner in our firm, I have more than doubled our income. I have a great deal of power, Mr. Bolitho, too, more than you think; I could cause you to lose this election, and I can make you win it." "How?" asked the other. His voice was keen and sharp. "I will not tell you how," replied Ned. "But I can make you win it. Perhaps there's not another man but myself that can. And you shall, too, if you'll promise to do your best for me with Mary. Is it a bargain?" Mr. Bolitho did not speak. For the moment he was under great excitement. The fear that he would lose the seat had entered his heart, and, as he had more than once said, the desire to win in everything he undertook was a kind of passion with him. He would do a great deal, and give a great deal, to win this election, not because he thought it would add much either to his fame or to his position, but because the eagerness to be conqueror was almost like a disease. "Come, now," repeated Ned. "Is it a bargain? If I win you this election, will you do your best for me with Mary. Of course, I don't ask you to force her--she's not a girl to be forced--but will you do your best? Mind you, I love her like my own life, and I'll devote every power I have to make her happy!"