Fatigue did not count, nor hoarseness from much speaking, nor an undercurrent of consciousness that there were, after all, more parties than two, more principles than those they advocated, more colours than black and white, more epithets than hero and villain.

They must act in their moment, and accept its excitement.

A colour burned in their cheeks, and the hair lay damp upon their foreheads.

They must listen and answer to men saying loudly to their faces and before other men, "I hold with you, and your mind is brother to my mind"; or saying, "I hold not with you, and you and your mind are abominable to me! To outer darkness with you both!" Sometimes they consulted with their committee-men, and sometimes punch was brought, and they drank with their friends.

Occasionally they spoke to each other; when they did this, it was with extreme courtesy.