"I feel all that I owe to the borough," said Phineas, "and to the
warm friends there who have espoused my cause; but I am not in a
condition at present, either of mind or body, to put myself forward
anywhere in public. I have suffered a great deal."
"Most cruel!" said Troddles.
"And am quite willing to confess that I am therefore unfit in my
present position to serve the borough."
"We can't admit that," said Gadmire, raising his left hand.
"We mean to have you," said Troddles.
"There isn't a doubt about your re-election, Mr. Finn," said Ruddles.
"I am very grateful, but I cannot be there. I must trust to one of
you gentlemen to explain to the electors that in my present condition
I am unable to visit the borough."
Messrs. Ruddles, Gadmire, and Troddles returned to Tankerville,
--disappointed no doubt at not bringing with them him whose
company would have made their feet glorious on the pavement of
their native town,--but still with a comparative sense of their own
importance in having seen the great sufferer whose woes forbade that
he should be beheld by common eyes.
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