I act as secretary to Godolphin, the member for Slacksea.' Peak's acquaintance with current politics was slight, but Mr.Ellis Godolphin, the aristocratic Radical, necessarily stood before his imagination with some clearness of outline.

So this was how life had dealt with Buckland.

The announcement was made with a certain satisfaction, as if it implied more than the hearer would readily appreciate.

Again there was a slight shrinking on Godwin's part; it would be natural for him to avow his own position, and so leave no room for misunderstandings, but before he could shape a phrase Buckland was again questioning.
'Do you ever see any of the old fellows ?' 'I have met one or two of them, by chance.' As if his tact informed him that this inquiry had been a mistake, Warricombe resumed the subject of his family.
'My brother Louis is at home--of course you can't remember him; he was a youngster when you were at Thornhaw.

The younger boy died some years ago, a pony accident; cut up my father dreadfully.