I'm
glad you do me the justice to believe that I won't misunderstand."
"Oh, I was sure you wouldn't misunderstand. You see, Mrs. Frostwinch
has been so good to my family. I have seven children, Mr. Strathmore,
all under ten."
The eye of the host twinkled, but he was otherwise of admirable
gravity.
"And my chance might be better if you hadn't so many?" he suggested.
"Oh, we never could have had so many if it hadn't been for Mrs.
Frostwinch," Mr. Pewtap responded eagerly. "I mean, of course, that we
couldn't have taken care of them all. She has for years given Mrs.
Pewtap a little annual income,--little to her, I mean, of course; but
it doesn't take much to be a great deal to us."
Mr. Strathmore picked up a paper-knife of cut silver and played with it
a moment in silence, as if waiting for the other to go on.
"Do I understand," he said at length, "that Mrs. Frostwinch has
something to do with your decision in regard to the election?"
"Yes; she wrote to me that she was sure that I'd vote for Father
Frontford, and that she was greatly interested in his being bishop.
It's the only thing she ever asked of me, and she has been so generous
that I don't see how I can refuse when Father Frontford is so good a
man, and so earnest for the upbuilding of the church.
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