At half-past two it was agreed by both sides that Mr Moffat was ahead; the Moffatites claiming a majority of twelve, and the Scatcherdites allowing a majority of one.

But by three o'clock sundry good men and true, belonging to the railway interest, had made their way to the booth in spite of the efforts of a band of roughs from Courcy, and Sir Roger was again leading, by ten or a dozen, according to his own showing.
One little transaction which took place in the earlier part of the day deserves to be recorded.

There was in Barchester an honest publican--honest as the world of publicans goes--who not only was possessed of a vote, but possessed also of a son who was a voter.
He was one Reddypalm, and in former days, before he had learned to appreciate the full value of an Englishman's franchise, he had been a declared Liberal and an early friend of Roger Scatcherd's.

In latter days he had governed his political feelings with more decorum, and had not allowed himself to be carried away by such foolish fervour as he had evinced in his youth.

On this special occasion, however, his line of conduct was so mysterious as for a while to baffle even those who knew him best.
His house was apparently open in Sir Roger's interest.