"
"A fellow with so much influence in committee ought to
have more control of his nerve centres," Ormiston told
him. The squire belonged to that order of elderly gentlemen
who will have their little joke. "Well, have you and
Bingham and Horace Williams made up your minds who's to
have the seat?"
Farquharson shook his head. "I only know what I see in
the papers," he said. "The Dominion is away out with
Fawkes, and the Express is about as lukewarm with Carter
as he is with federated trade."
"Your Government won't be obliged to you for Carter,"
said Mr Ormiston; "a more slack-kneed, double-jointed
scoundrel was never offered a commission in a respectable
cause. He'll be the first to rat if things begin to look
queer for this new policy of yours and Wallingham's."
"He hasn't got it yet," Farquharson admitted, "and he
won't with my good will. So you're with us for preference
trade, Ormiston?"
"It's a thing I'd like to see. It's a thing I'm sorry
we're not in a position to take up practically ourselves.
But you won't get it, you know. You'll be defeated by
the senior partner. It's too much of a doctrine for the
people of England. They're listening to Wallingham just
now because they admire him, but they won't listen to
you. I doubt whether it will ever come to an issue over
there.
Pages:
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276