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 Sir Joseph had the reputation of being the possessor of a sense of humor, and the Ex-Ambassador had a few ideas also upon that recondite subject; but each of these gentlemen smiled very warily at the other, as though he was not quite certain whether it would be safe in the circumstances to allow his mobile fancy to play around that which had rather the appearance of a jest on the surface. Had they not mistrusted one another so sorely, they might have been tempted to do so; but the odd thing was that the prospective candidate for South-West Blackhampton respected their bona fides so immensely that he remained a perfect image of gravity.

"I will do my best, sir, to kick three goals against Liverpool or Manchester City," said the young man as he shook hands and took his leave.

"Then I think you may be returned to Parliament," said the shrewd Lancastrian cordially; "that is, if you never hold a meeting without having your wife on the platform; and you let her do most of the talking, you know."

It was frankness, certainly, on the part of Sir Joseph Huffham, Bart., M. P.; but that illustrious man owed much of his eminence to the fact that he had a pretty sound working knowledge of things in general.

"I will certainly do that, sir," said the young man.

Whereupon he thanked Sir Joseph and the Ex-Am