Perhaps so. But if so, had not that opinion been given to
him very plainly when he was told that he was both proud and
diffident? That he was called upon to serve his country, by good
service, if such were within his power, he did acknowledge freely;
but not that he should allow himself to be stuck up as a ninepin
only to be knocked down! There are politicians for whom such
occupation seems to be proper,--and who like it too. A little
office, a little power, a little rank, a little pay, a little
niche in the ephemeral history of the year will reward many men
adequately for being knocked down.
And yet he loved power, and even when thinking of all this allowed
his mind from time to time to run away into a dreamland of
prosperous political labours. He thought what it would be to be an
all-beneficent Prime Minister, with a loyal majority, with a well-
conditioned unanimous cabinet, with a grateful people, and an
appreciative Sovereign. How well might a man spend himself night
and day, even to death, in the midst of such labours as these.
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