New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-13
A MAIDEN SPEECH.
CHAPTER /.

% II dare ire say he won't be much longer said
Miss Sinclair, in tranquil tone. Very likely
IN isn't all over YET But she took stcalthy
glance at the clock on the mantelpiece, and made
a little gesture Of Impotence.
He said he would be here by FOUR, Lazy
Cecilia rejoined, and it is now nearly ha1-paS'.
Can anything have gone wrong Hal.
while she said This may turn out to be an
eventful day in your brothers history, my dear
In years to come he may look BACK on tne oaS
when no first entered the House o. Commons, ana
think of how be hoped TO make name and have
career. But perhaps your brother doesn't LII
isdy Cecilia looked at her friend quickly.
Edith, you mustn't think Tom is lndlnereno
because he doesn't say much ne Is IKE m RSt
| am sure he does fcel-he is ambitious, know
Don't you think so, too :? -, NJ. S;no,,ir
i hope so, certainly said MISS Sl3 GoniIfo oop
tinued have career, as you say. And II ne
does, you will know that you were the cause
of it all lie would never have gone INTO far
liment if you hadn't wanted him TO- lie Is
doing it just to please YOU" ,, "
Miss Sinclair smiled and bushed q little. Lady
Cecilias words pleasant to listen to; Dut
she felt that she must make some protest
a am afraid that is a wrong motive she said
He ought to do it for the lqye Of his country u9
entered public life, any way 1t is dreadful TO
me to see man who could do better wasting
all his. time as so many men do. Your brother
oh ,'" YES, said Lady Cecilia hastily: Tom
has talent, though he seems anxious to appear
II is possible Miss Sinclair might have protested
against this an eXaggeration, had " not Deen
for the arrival of the gentleman under discus
The Hon. Thomas Chillingham Waloot Barra-
cliffe. or, as his friends called him, Tom Barra
clifTe, was tall good-looking man, little under
I'll" Did It 90 Of weli9S Miss Sinclair inquired.
"Tel us all about it, Lady Cecilia said.
"There's not much to tell, he replied slowly.
fOrTn "A
doesn't take five minutes. You go up to a table
two members introduce you, you know, You take
Speaker. YOU know and that's ALL You have to
show up what they call the Return of the Writ.
ps mother 5SS fn sef s2e hes s and them
Lady Cecilia had something TO say and drew her
over to the window. Tom and Edith had one
end of the long drawing room to themselves She
Now, Mr. BarraciifTe, you really member.
and l shall be quite impatient till l read your
first speech. | was so sorry that there was
no contest at the election; would have liked you
to give ever many addresses TO the electors and
explain all your principles; what an excitement
we should have had over the poll"
Tom BarracGe smiled little.
Il believe most men are glad TO get IN as
easily as they can he said. can't say was
anXiOcS 10 spe2chify; people ask you such aWS
ward questions, you know.
But now you are in the House, you must speak,
YOU know: and you must begin soon. You must
get over the first awkwardness a, soon as you
You don't want me to join in-in the debate
on the Address do YOU ?" he asked
"No,' Miss Sinclair said: that might be too
soon. You must take week or two to get used
to the House but you might speak once or twice
when the Estimates are being discussed. Just
say word or two, you Know and reserve your
"You want ne to make myself ridiculous.
Tom said. .,,,..,,
she replied. Remember pisraeli and his failure
How grand it of him to say, The day Will
come when you will hear mer"
.oiif a tool-ad Nnrx- Auh n
long pause he said. with some attempt at light
ness, "You lay your commands upon me, then:
speak and sit on committee and address public
meetings and by-and-by you will get some office,
and then you will 60 INTO TIC Cabinet, and perhaps
Tom BarracliTe Looked round, and then said
you don't intend to keep me waiting till then,
%7YIi YOU are Prime Mnister-nO. 1 shall be
an old woman then, suppose.
Tom did not smile or look at her. He sat with
his head bent forward gazing intently at a spot
in the carpet After little while Edith spoke
Seriously. Mr.. Barracliffe, can't tell you any
more vet II it's q sin not to know ones own
mind, l am guilty Of it: l like you very much,
do indeed and there is no one l IKE better or or
that. And believe in you too: ! believe you
can do great things, and want you to try
Here a footman appeared with tea and its
appurtenances. Lady Cecilia and Mrs. Sinclair
came back to the little table where the two young
ncople were sitting Tom looked up at his sister.
miss Sinclair decides that am to he an orator
Edith Is right said his sister. We expect
great things of you now-'the applause OF listening
SenateS 10 command"
She reci;cA Gray's verse ore rOtundo
Tom Barraclifre looked slightly borel-he never
disguised his contempt for poetry. Miss Sinclair
looked at him enthusiastically. ,u.., :, ,.ou
u shall be dreadfully disappointed II You
don't make your presence felt in the House, she
@Ob. replied Tom, - must go into training
become
"oh,S said Miss Sinclair. you'll want TO read NJ
all the great questions. II you like, III ask MI
Tracy 10 give me a list of the best boo ks.
Tom Barraciffe did not look particularly pleased
"Oh, Tracy ne said; "of course, he knows
"Mr' Tracy knows everything that is WORT
Knowing or almost everything said Miss Sinclair
He is like an encyclopaedia and he always opens
Tom didn't reply at once and the conversation
drifted away from the ofnniscient Mr. Tracy
But as Lady Cecilia was taking lcaVe-a private
and particular eave--of her friend, she said:
II never knew before you thought so much
Miss Sinclair blushed a little, but she replied
firmly, Mr.. Tracy is the cleverest man know
Poor Tom has got rival then" said Lady
Cecilia, looking straight at her friend
Mr.. Tracy will always be my friend, hope,
SIZE Alter short pause She added He has neve
LADY Cecilia was somewhat treasured, but a
she and her Drotner were urINing nome t0geule
she couldn't refrain from asking him what IN
thought OF Mr.. Tracy.
Tom laughed. -
pobody-writes for reviews and dictionaries, an,
all that sort Of thing
al suppose he's cleverP' said Lady Cecilia care
lessly. "a. u,
doubt We were at school together
s good deal was implied in the last sentence
T, meant that IL was at school that Tom had learne
thar very clever people generally exist very mucl
for the benefit Of those who can Vurn their clever
II may as well get a list of books from oil
Tracy" Tom added