After a late breakfast he walked out far away, into the Regent’s Park, and there, wandering among the uninteresting paths, he devised triumphs of oratory4 for himself. Let him resolve as he would to forget Mr Bonteen, and that charge of having been untrue to his companions, he could not restrain himself from efforts to fit the matter after some fashion into his speech. Dim ideas of a definition of political honesty crossed his brain, bringing with him, however, a conviction that his thought must be much more clearly worked out than it could be on that day before he might venture to give it birth in the House of Commons. He knew that he had been honest two years ago in separating himself from his colleagues. He knew that he would be honest now in voting with them, apparently5 in opposition6 to the pledges he had given at Tankerville. But he knew also that it would behove him to abstain7 from speaking of himself unless he could do so in close reference to some point specially8 in dispute between the two parties, When he returned to eat a mutton chop at Great Marlborough Street at three o’clock he was painfully conscious that all his morning had been wasted. He had allowed his mind to run revel9, instead of tying it down to the formation of sentences and construction of arguments.
He entered the House with the Speaker at four o’clock, and took his seat without uttering a word to any man. He seemed to be more than ever disjoined from his party. Hitherto, since he had been seated by the Judge’s order, the former companions of his Parliamentary life — the old men whom he had used to know — had to a certain degree admitted him among them. Many of them sat on the front Opposition bench, whereas he, as a matter of course, had seated himself behind. But he had very frequently found himself next to some man who had held office and was living in the hope of holding it again, and had felt himself to be in some sort recognised as an aspirant10. Now it seemed to him that it was otherwise. He did not doubt but that Bonteen had shown the correspondence to his friends, and that the Ratlers and Erles had conceded that he, Phineas, was put out of court by it. He sat doggedly11 still, at the end of a bench behind Mr Gresham, and close to the gangway. When Mr Gresham entered the House he was received with much cheering; but Phineas did not join in the cheer. He was studious to avoid any personal recognition or the future giver-away of places, though they two were close together; and he then fancied that Mr Gresham had specially and most ungraciously abstained12 from any recognition of him. Mr Monk13, who sat near him, spoke14 a kind word to him. “I shan’t be very long,” said Phineas; “not above twenty minutes, I should think.” He was able to assume an air of indifference15, and yet at the moment he heartily16 wished himself back in Dublin. It was not now that he feared the task immediately before him, but that he was overcome by the feeling of general failure which had come upon him. Of what use was it to him or to anyone else that he should be there in that assembly, with the privilege of making a speech that would influence no human being, unless his being there could be made a step to something beyond? While the usual preliminary work was being done, he looked round the House, and saw Lord Cantrip in the Peers’ gallery. Alas17! of what avail was that? He had always been able to bind18 to him individuals with whom he had been brought into close contact; but more than that was wanted in this most precarious19 of professions, in which now, for a second time, he was attempting to earn his bread.
At half past four he was on his legs in the midst of a crowded House. The chance — perhaps the hope — of some such encounter as that of the former day, brought members into their seats, and filled the gallery with strangers. We may say, perhaps, that the highest duty imposed upon us as a nation is the management of India; and we may also say that in a great national assembly personal squabbling among its members is the least dignified20 work in which it can employ itself. But the prospect21 of an explanation — or otherwise of a fight — between two leading politicians will fill the House; and any allusion22 to our Eastern Empire will certainly empty it. An aptitude23 for such encounters is almost a necessary qualification for a popular leader in Parliament, as is a capacity for speaking for three hours to the reporters, and to the reporters only — a necessary qualification for an Under-Secretary of State for India.
Phineas had the advantage of the temper of the moment in a House thoroughly24 crowded, and he enjoyed it. Let a man doubt ever so much his own capacity for some public exhibition which he has undertaken; yet he will always prefer to fail — if fail he must — before a large audience. But on this occasion there was no failure. That sense of awe25 from the surrounding circumstances of the moment, which had once been heavy on him, and which he still well remembered, had been overcome, and had never returned to him. He felt now that he should not lack words to pour out his own individual grievances26 were it not that he was prevented by a sense of the indiscretion of doing so. As it was, he did succeed in alluding27 to his own condition in a manner that brought upon him no reproach. He began by saying that he should not have added to the difficulty of the debate — which was one simply of length — were it not that he had been accused in advance of voting against a measure as to which he had pledged himself at the hustings28 to do all that he could to further it. No man was more anxious than he, an Irish Roman Catholic, to abolish that which he thought to be the anomaly of a State Church, and he did not in the least doubt that he should now be doing the best in his power with that object in voting against the second reading of the present bill. That such a measure should be carried by the gentlemen opposite, in their own teeth, at the bidding of the right honourable29 gentleman who led them, he thought to be impossible. Upon this he was hooted30 at from the other side with many gestures of indignant denial, and was, of course, equally cheered by those around him. Such interruptions are new breath to the nostrils31 of all orators32, and Phineas enjoyed the noise. He repeated his assertion that it would be an evil thing for the country that the measure should be carried by men who in their hearts condemned33 it, and was vehemently34 called to order for this assertion about the hearts of gentlemen. But a speaker who can certainly be made amenable35 to authority for vilipending in debate the heart of any specified36 opponent, may with safety attribute all manner of ill to the agglomerated37 hearts of a party. To have told any individual Conservative — Sir Orlando Drought for instance — that he was abandoning all the convictions of his life, because he was a creature at the command of Mr Daubeny, would have been an insult that would have moved even the Speaker from his serenity38; but you can hardly be personal to a whole bench of Conservatives — to bench above bench of Conservatives. The charge had been made and repeated over and over again, till all the Orlando Droughts were ready to cut some man’s throat — whether their own, or Mr Daubeny’s, or Mr Gresham’s, they hardly knew. It might probably have been Mr Daubeny’s for choice, had any real cutting of a throat been possible. It was now made again by Phineas Finn — with the ostensible39 object of defending himself — and he for the moment became the target for Conservative wrath40. Someone asked him in fury by what right he took upon himself to judge of the motives41 of gentlemen on that side of the House of whom personally he knew nothing. Phineas replied that he did not at all doubt the motives of the honourable gentleman who asked the question, which he was sure were noble and patriotic42. But unfortunately the whole country was convinced that the Conservative party as a body was supporting this measure, unwillingly43, and at the bidding of one man — and, for himself, he was bound to say that he agreed with the country. And so the row was renewed and prolonged, and the gentlemen assembled, members and strangers together, passed a pleasant evening.
Before he sat down, Phineas made one allusion to that former scuttling44 of the ship — an accusation45 as to which had been made against him so injuriously by Mr Bonteen. He himself, he said, had been called impractical46, and perhaps he might allude47 to a vote which he had given in that House when last he had the honour of sitting there, and on giving which he resigned the office which he had then held. He had the gratification of knowing that he had been so far practical as to have then foreseen the necessity of a measure which had since been passed. And he did not doubt that he would hereafter be found to have been equally practical in the view that he had expressed on the hustings at Tankerville, for he was convinced that before long the anomaly of which he had spoken would cease to exist under the influence of a Government that would really believe in the work it was doing.
There was no doubt as to the success of his speech. The vehemence48 with which his insolence49 was abused by one after another of those who spoke later from the other side was ample evidence of its success. But nothing occurred then or at the conclusion of the debate to make him think that he had won his way back to Elysium. During the whole evening he exchanged not a syllable50 with Mr Gresham — who indeed was not much given to converse51 with those around him in the House. Erle said a few good-natured words to him, and Mr Monk praised him highly. But in reading the general barometer52 of the party as regarded himself, he did not find that the mercury went up. He was wretchedly anxious, and angry with himself for his own anxiety. He scorned to say a word that should sound like an entreaty54; and yet he had placed his whole heart on a thing which seemed to be slipping from him for the want of asking. In a day or two it would be known whether the present Ministry55 would or would not go out. That they must be out of office before a month was over seemed to him the opinion of everybody. His fate — and what a fate it was! — would then be absolutely in the hands of Mr Gresham. Yet he could not speak a word of his hopes and fears even to Mr Gresham. He had given up everything in the world with the view of getting into office; and now that the opportunity had come — an opportunity which if allowed to slip could hardly return again in time to be of service to him — the prize was to elude56 his grasp!
But yet he did not say a word to anyone on the subject that was so near his heart, although in the course of the night he spoke to Lord Cantrip in the gallery of the House. He told his friend that a correspondence had taken place between himself and Mr Bonteen, in which he thought that he had been ill-used, and as to which he was quite anxious to ask His Lordship’s advice. “I heard that you and he had been tilting57 at each other,” said Lord Cantrip, smiling.
“Have you seen the letters?”
“No — but I was told of them by Lord Fawn58, who has seen them.”
“I knew he would show them to every newsmonger about the clubs,” said Phineas angrily.
“You can’t quarrel with Bonteen for showing them to Fawn, if you intend to show them to me.”
“He may publish them at Charing59 Cross if he likes.”
“Exactly. I am sure that there will have been nothing in them prejudicial to you. What I mean is that if you think it necessary, with a view to your own character, to show them to me or to another friend, you cannot complain that he should do the same.”
An appointment was made at Lord Cantrip’s house for the next morning, and Phineas could but acknowledge to himself that the man’s manner to himself had been kind and constant. Nevertheless, the whole affair was going against him. Lord Cantrip had not said a word prejudicial to that wretch53 Bonteen; much less had he hinted at any future arrangements which would be comfortable to poor Phineas. They two, Lord Cantrip and Phineas, had at one period been on most intimate terms together — had worked in the same office, and had thoroughly trusted each other. The elder of the two — for Lord Cantrip was about ten years senior to Phineas — had frequently expressed the most lively interest in the prospects60 of the other; and Phineas had felt that in any emergency he could tell his friend all his hopes and fears. But now he did not say a word of his position, nor did Lord Cantrip allude to it. They were to meet on the morrow in order that Lord Cantrip might read the correspondence — but Phineas was sure that no word would be said about the Government.
At five o’clock in the morning the division took place, and the Government was beaten by a majority of 72. This was much higher than any man had expected. When the parties were marshalled in the opposite lobbies it was found that in the last moment the number of those Conservatives who dared to rebel against their Conservative leaders was swelled61 by the course which the debate had taken. There were certain men who could not endure to be twitted with having deserted62 the principles of their lives, when it was clear that nothing was to be gained by the party by such desertion.
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1
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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aspirant
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| n.热望者；adj.渴望的 | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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12
abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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hustings
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| n.竞选活动 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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30
hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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33
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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amenable
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| adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的 | |
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specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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agglomerated
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| 团聚颗粒 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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40
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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41
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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42
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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43
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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scuttling
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| n.船底穿孔，打开通海阀（沉船用）v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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45
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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46
impractical
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| adj.不现实的，不实用的，不切实际的 | |
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47
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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48
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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49
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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50
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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51
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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52
barometer
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| n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标 | |
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53
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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54
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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55
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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56
elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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57
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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58
fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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59
charing
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| n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣 | |
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60
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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61
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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62
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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