After this business at Birmingham, the government must act. I
hear that they will immediately increase the army and the
police; and that there is a circular from the Secretary of
State to the Lords Lieutenant of counties. But the government
will strike at the Convention. The members who remain will be
the victims. If your father return to Mowbray and be quiet,
he has a chance of not being disturbed."
"An ignoble end of many lofty hopes," said Sybil.
"Let us retain our hopes," said Egremont, "and cherish them."
"I have none," she replied.
"And I am sanguine," said Egremont.
"Ah! because you have made a beautiful speech. But they will
listen to you, they will cheer you, but they will never follow
you. The dove and the eagle will not mate; the lion and the
lamb will not lie down together; and the conquerors will never
rescue the conquered."
Egremont shook his head. "You still will cherish these
phantoms, dear Sybil! and why? They are not visions of
delight. Believe me they are as vain as they are distressing.
The mind of England is the mind ever of the rising race.
Trust me it is with the People. And not the less so, because
this feeling is one of which even in a great degree it is
unconscious.
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