'
'But the circumstances are not usual.'
'It cannot often be the case that a minister should ask the son of
his keenest political opponent to render him such a service. But,
however, we will put that aside.'
'Not quite, sir.'
'For the present we will put that on one side. Not looking at the
party which you may be called upon to support, having for the
moment no regard to this or that line in politics, there is no
opening to the real duties of parliamentary life which I would
sooner see accorded to you than this.'
'But if I were to break down?' Talking to his father he could not
quite venture to ask what might happen if he were to 'come a
cropper'.
'None but the brave deserve the fair,' said the Duke slapping his
hands upon the table. 'Why, if "We fail, we fail! But screw your
courage to the sticking place, And we'll not fail." What high
point would ever be reached if caution such as that were allowed
to prevail? What young men have done before cannot you do? I
have no doubt of your capacity. None.'
'Haven't you, sir,' said Silverbridge, considerably gratified,--and
also surprised.
Pages:
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905