"
The Doctor looked steadily at Mr. Bingham, who felt that every corner of
his pitiful soul was visible.
"The line I have taken you have generally supported. That is not what
you mean. If I am defeated I shall be defeated by equivocating
cowardice, and I shall consider myself honoured."
The Doctor strode out of the room. He knew now that he was the common
property of the town, and that every tongue was wagging about him and a
woman, but he was defiant. The next morning he saw painted in white
paint on his own wall -
"My dearly beloved, for all you're so bold,
To-morrow you'll find you're left out in the cold;
And, Doctor, the reason you need not to ax,
It's because of a dressmaker--Mrs. F---fax."
He was going out just as the gardener was about to obliterate the
inscription.
"Leave it, Robert, leave it; let the filthy scoundrels perpetuate their
own disgrace."
The result of the election was curious. Two of the Church candidates
were returned at the top of the poll. Jem Casey came next. Dr.
Midleton and the other two Radical and Dissenting candidates were
defeated.
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