Page:Gissing - The Unclassed, vol. I, 1884.djvu/62

 members was the stock subject of his scornful comment. No Bill found its way into either House without his making himself more or less familiar with its details; so-called “great” measures were the delight of his—I was going to say soul, but will ask the reader to substitute some other word. In short, the engrossing actuality of current politics was ideally adapted to the man’s mental and moral nature. Here he was dealing with power, power in what was, to him, its highest manifestations. He liked to imagine himself a party-leader, a prime minister, nay, a monarch. He devised ideal policies for this state or that; he schemed for wars; he elaborated treaties. At election times he was a leading man in his borough, as active practically in the petty details of registering, canvassing, bribing, polling, as in fancy when higher spheres were concerned. What a worthy citizen was Abraham Woodstock! What an enlightened, free, and independent elector! What a patriot! How unfortunate that he was not born Emperor of all the Russias!

To return to his domestic affairs. He had not