In those days the county returned four Conservatives.
I cannot explain it all to you, but it is his duty to contest the county on the Liberal side." "But if he is a Conservative himself, papa ?" asked Lady Mary, who had had some political ideas suggested to her own mind by her lover.
"It is all rubbish.

It has come from that young man Tregear, with whom he has been associating." "But, papa," said Lady Mary, who felt that even in this matter she was bound to be firm on what was now her side of the question, "I suppose it is as--as--as respectable to be a Conservative as a Liberal." "I don't know that at all," said the Duke angrily.
"I thought that--the two sides were--" She was going to express an opinion that the two parties might be supposed to stand as equal in the respect of the country, when he interrupted her.

"The Pallisers have always been Liberal.

It will be a blow to me, indeed, if Silverbridge deserts his colours.

I know that as yet he himself has had no deep thoughts on the subject, that unfortunately he does not give himself much to thinking, and that in this matter he is being talked over by a young man whose position in life has hardly justified the great intimacy which has existed." This was very far from being comfortable to her, but of course she said nothing in defence of Tregear's politics.