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8

Mrs. B. Perfectly well; and very glad, even after so short an absence, to find myself at home again. But what is going on here? I have heard strange news just now: Peter tells me you are a candidate for the Borough, and Mr. Freeman is your rival. It is some blunder of his own, I suppose?

Balt. No, it is not.

Mrs. B. (stepping back in surprise, and holding up her hands.) And are you actually throwing away the last stake of your ruin'd fortune on a contested election?

Balt. I will sell every acre of land in my possession, rather than see that man sit in parliament for the borough of Westown.

Mrs. B. And why should not he as well as another? The declining fortunes of your family have long made you give up every idea of the kind for yourself: of what consequence, then, can it possibly be to you? I know very well, my dear Baltimore, it is not a pleasant thing for the representative of an old family declined in fortune, to see a rich obscure stranger buy up all the land on every side, and set himself down like a petty prince in his neighbourhood. But if he had not done it, some other most likely would; and what should we have gain'd by the change?

Balt. O! any other than himself I could have suffer'd.

Mrs. B. You amaze me. He has some disagreeable follies I confess, but he is friendly and liberal.