She thought that something might be coming out of this occasion, something as it were national, that would bear fruit.

And watching Stanley buttoning his braces, she grew enthusiastic.

For, think how splendidly everything was represented! Britto, with his view that the thing had gone too far, and all the little efforts we might make now were no good, with Canada and those great spaces to outbid anything we could do; though she could not admit that he was right, there was a lot in what he said; he had great gifts--and some day might--who knew?
Then there was Sir John--Clara pursued--who was almost the father of the new Tory policy: Assist the farmers to buy their own land.

And Colonel Martlett, representing the older Tory policy of: What the devil would happen to the landowners if they did?
Secretly (Clara felt sure) he would never go into a lobby to support that.

He had said to her: 'Look at my brother James's property; if we bring this policy in, and the farmers take advantage, his house might stand there any day without an acre round it.' Quite true--it might.