He was quite sure that he would refuse Mr. Gresham's offer, although
by doing so he would himself throw away the very thing which he had
devoted his life to acquire. In a foolish, soft moment,--as he now
confessed to himself,--he had endeavoured to obtain for his own
position the sympathy of the Minister. He had spoken of the calumnies
which had hurt him, and of his sufferings when he found himself
excluded from place in consequence of the evil stories which had
been told of him. Mr. Gresham had, in fact, declined to listen to
him;--had said Yes or No was all that he required, and had gone on to
explain that he would be unable to understand the reasons proposed to
be given even were he to hear them. Phineas had felt himself to be
repulsed, and would at once have shown his anger, had not the Prime
Minister silenced him for the moment by a civilly-worded repetition
of the offer made.
But the offer should certainly be declined. As he told himself that
it must be so, he endeavoured to analyse the causes of this decision,
but was hardly successful.
Pages:
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282