We have rather anticipated, for the sake of the subject, in our last chapter, and we must now recur1 to the time when, after his return from Paris, Endymion entered into what was virtually his first session in the House of Commons. Though in opposition2, and with all the delights of the most charming society at his command, he was an habitual3 and constant attendant. One might have been tempted4 to believe that he would turn out to be, though a working, only a silent member, but his silence was only prudence5. He was deeply interested and amused in watching the proceedings6, especially when those took part in them with whom he was acquainted. Job Thornberry occupied a leading position in the debates. He addressed the House very shortly after he took his seat, and having a purpose and a most earnest one, and being what is styled a representative man of his subject, the House listened to him at once, and his place in debate was immediately recognised. The times favoured him, especially during the first and second session, while the commercial depression lasted; afterwards, he was always listened to, because he had great oratorical8 gifts, a persuasive9 style that was winning, and, though he had no inconsiderable powers of sarcasm10, his extreme tact11 wisely guided him to restrain for the present that dangerous, though most effective, weapon.
The Pythagorean school, as Waldershare styled Mr. Bertie Tremaine and his following, very much amused Endymion. The heaven-born minister air of the great leader was striking. He never smiled, or at any rate contemptuously. Notice of a question was sometimes publicly given from this bench, but so abstruse12 in its nature and so quaint7 in its expression, that the House never comprehended it, and the unfortunate minister who had to answer, even with twenty-four hours’ study, was obliged to commence his reply by a conjectural13 interpretation14 of the query15 formally addressed to him. But though they were silent in the House, their views were otherwise powerfully represented. The weekly journal devoted17 to their principles was sedulously18 circulated among members of the House. It was called the “Precursor,” and systematically19 attacked not only every institution, but, it might be said, every law, and all the manners and customs, of the country. Its style was remarkable20, never excited or impassioned, but frigid21, logical, and incisive22, and suggesting appalling23 revolutions with the calmness with which one would narrate24 the ordinary incidents of life. The editor of the “Precursor” was Mr. Jawett, selected by that great master of human nature, Mr. Bertie Tremaine. When it got about, that the editor of this fearful journal was a clerk in a public office, the indignation of the government, or at least of their supporters, was extreme, and there was no end to the punishments and disgrace to which he was to be subjected; but Waldershare, who lived a good deal in Bohemia, was essentially25 cosmopolitan26, and dabbled27 in letters, persuaded his colleagues not to make the editor of the “Precursor” a martyr28, and undertook with their authority to counteract29 his evil purposes by literary means alone.
Being fully16 empowered to take all necessary steps for this object, Waldershare thought that there was no better mode of arresting public attention to his enterprise than by engaging for its manager the most renowned30 pen of the hour, and he opened himself on the subject in the most sacred confidence to Mr. St. Barbe. That gentleman, invited to call upon a minister, sworn to secrecy31, and brimful of state secrets, could not long restrain himself, and with admirable discretion32 consulted on his views and prospects33 Mr. Endymion Ferrars.
“But I thought you were one of us,” said Endymion; “you asked me to put you in the way of getting into Brooks’!”
“What of that?” said Mr. St. Barbe; “and when you remember what the Whigs owe to literary men, they ought to have elected me into Brooks’ without my asking for it.”
“Still, if you be on the other side?”
“It is nothing to do with sides,” said Mr. St. Barbe; “this affair goes far beyond sides. The ‘Precursor’ wants to put down the Crown; I shall put down the ‘Precursor.’ It is an affair of the closet, not of sides—an affair of the royal closet, sir. I am acting34 for the Crown, sir; the Crown has appealed to me. I save the Crown, and there must be personal relations with the highest,” and he looked quite fierce.
“Well, you have not written your first article yet,” said Endymion. “I shall look forward to it with much interest.”
After Easter, Lord Roehampton said to Endymion that a question ought to be put on a subject of foreign policy of importance, and on which he thought the ministry35 were in difficulties; “and I think you might as well ask it, Endymion. I will draw up the question, and you will give notice of it. It will be a reconnaissance.”
The notice of this question was the first time Endymion opened his mouth in the House of Commons. It was an humble36 and not a very hazardous37 office, but when he got on his legs his head swam, his heart beat so violently, that it was like a convulsion preceding death, and though he was only on his legs for a few seconds, all the sorrows of his life seemed to pass before him. When he sate38 down, he was quite surprised that the business of the House proceeded as usual, and it was only after some time that he became convinced that no one but himself was conscious of his sufferings, or that he had performed a routine duty otherwise than in a routine manner.
The crafty39 question, however, led to some important consequences. When asked, to the surprise of every one the minister himself replied to it. Waldershare, with whom Endymion dined at Bellamy’s that day, was in no good humour in consequence.
When Lord Roehampton had considered the ministerial reply, he said to Endymion, “This must be followed up. You must move for papers. It will be a good opportunity for you, for the House is up to something being in the wind, and they will listen. It will be curious to see whether the minister follows you. If so, he will give me an opening.”
Endymion felt that this was the crisis of his life. He knew the subject well, and he had all the tact and experience of Lord Roehampton to guide him in his statement and his arguments. He had also the great feeling that, if necessary, a powerful arm would support him. It was about a week before the day arrived, and Endymion slept very little that week, and the night before his motion not a wink40. He almost wished he was dead as he walked down to the House in the hope that the exercise might remedy, or improve, his languid circulation; but in vain, and when his name was called and he had to rise, his hands and feet were like ice.
Lady Roehampton and Lady Montfort were both in the ventilator, and he knew it.
It might be said that he was sustained by his utter despair. He felt so feeble and generally imbecile, that he had not vitality41 enough to be sensible of failure.
He had a kind audience, and an interested one. When he opened his mouth, he forgot his first sentence, which he had long prepared. In trying to recall it and failing, he was for a moment confused. But it was only for a moment; the unpremeditated came to his aid, and his voice, at first tremulous, was recognised as distinct and rich. There was a murmur42 of sympathy, and not merely from his own side. Suddenly, both physically43 and intellectually, he was quite himself. His arrested circulation flowed, and fed his stagnant44 brain. His statement was lucid45, his arguments were difficult to encounter, and his manner was modest. He sate down amid general applause, and though he was then conscious that he had omitted more than one point on which he had relied, he was on the whole satisfied, and recollected46 that he might use them in reply, a privilege to which he now looked forward with feelings of comfort and confidence.
The minister again followed him, and in an elaborate speech. The subject evidently, in the opinion of the minister, was of too delicate and difficult a character to trust to a subordinate. Overwhelmed as he was with the labours of his own department, the general conduct of affairs, and the leadership of the House, he still would undertake the representation of an office with whose business he was not familiar. Wary47 and accurate he always was, but in discussions on foreign affairs, he never exhibited the unrivalled facility with which he ever treated a commercial or financial question, or that plausible48 promptness with which, at a moment’s notice, he could encounter any difficulty connected with domestic administration.
All these were qualities which Lord Roehampton possessed49 with reference to the affairs over which he had long presided, and in the present instance, following the minister, he was particularly happy. He had a good case, and he was gratified by the success of Endymion. He complimented him and confuted his opponent, and, not satisfied with demolishing50 his arguments, Lord Roehampton indulged in a little raillery which the House enjoyed, but which was never pleasing to the more solemn organisation51 of his rival.
No language can describe the fury of Waldershare as to the events of this evening. He looked upon the conduct of the minister, in not permitting him to represent his department, as a decree of the incapacity of his subordinate, and of the virtual termination of the official career of the Under–Secretary of State. He would have resigned the next day had it not been for the influence of Lady Beaumaris, who soothed52 him by suggesting, that it would be better to take an early opportunity of changing his present post for another.
The minister was wrong. He was not fond of trusting youth, but it is a confidence which should be exercised, particularly in the conduct of a popular assembly. If the under-secretary had not satisfactorily answered Endymion, which no one had a right to assume, for Waldershare was a brilliant man, the minister could have always advanced to the rescue at the fitting time. As it was, he made a personal enemy of one who naturally might have ripened53 into a devoted follower54, and who from his social influence, as well as from his political talents, was no despicable foe55.
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recur
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| vi.复发，重现，再发生 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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oratorical
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| adj.演说的，雄辩的 | |
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persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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abstruse
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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conjectural
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| adj.推测的 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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systematically
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| adv.有系统地 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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incisive
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| adj.敏锐的，机敏的，锋利的，切入的 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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cosmopolitan
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| adj.世界性的，全世界的，四海为家的，全球的 | |
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dabbled
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| v.涉猎( dabble的过去式和过去分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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demolishing
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| v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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