They
never will be satisfied till they have touched the land. That
is clear to me. I am prepared for a reduction of five-and-
twenty per cent; if the corn laws are touched, it can't be
less than that. My mother ought to take it into consideration
and reduce her jointure accordingly. But I dare say she will
not; people are so selfish; particularly as she has given you
this thousand pounds, which in fact after all comes out of my
pocket."
"All this you have said to me before. What does it mean? I
fought this battle at the instigation of the family, from no
feeling of my own. You are the head of the family and you
were consulted on the step. Unless I had concluded that it
was with your sanction, I certainly should not have made my
appearance on the hustings."
"I am very glad you did though," said Lord Marney; "Parliament
is a great point for our class: in these days especially, more
even than in the old time. I was truly rejoiced at your
success, and it mortified the whigs about us most
confoundedly. Some people thought there was only one family
in the world to have their Richmond or their Malton. Getting
you in for the old borough was really a coup."
"Well now, to retain our interest," said Egremont, "quick
payment of our expenses is the most efficient way, believe
me.
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