At any rate, he had spoken of his seat in Parliament as but a doubtful good.

"He was willing, indeed, to stand, having been asked; but the thing would interfere wonderfully with his business; and then, what did he know about Parliament?
Nothing on earth: it was the maddest scheme, but nevertheless, he was not going to hang back when called upon--he had always been rough and ready when wanted,--and there he was now ready as ever, and rough enough too, God knows." 'Twas thus that he had spoken of his coming parliamentary honours; and men had generally taken him at his word.

He had been returned, and this success had been hailed as a great thing for the cause and class to which he belonged.

But men did not know that his inner heart was swelling with triumph, and that his bosom could hardly contain his pride as he reflected that the poor Barchester stone-mason was now the representative in Parliament of his native city.

And so, when his seat was attacked, he still laughed and joked.