And this was the result! And how should he treat this matter in his coming interview with his son;--or should he make an allusion to it?
At first it seemed as though it would be impossible for him to give his mind to that other subject.

How could he enforce the merits of political Liberalism, and the duty of adhering to the old family party, while his mind was entirely preoccupied with his daughter?
It had suddenly become almost indifferent to him whether Silverbridge should be a Conservative or a Liberal.

But as he dressed he told himself that, as a man, he ought to be able to do a plain duty, marked out for him as this had been by his own judgment, without regard to personal suffering.

The hedger and ditcher must make his hedge and clean his ditch even though he be tormented by rheumatism.

His duty by his son he must do, even though his heart were torn to pieces.
During breakfast he tried to be gracious, and condescended to ask his son a question about Prime Minister.