The Husband Season

‘If we don’t stand together, we won’t win,’ the man said truculently.

‘I have no doubt that is what the men are saying,’ he had said.

‘And you, no doubt, know exactly what they are saying. I am disgusted with you. You are a traitor to your heritage.’

* * *

Adam was soon back at Wyndham House and settled down in the library to write his speech. He was not a natural orator like Henry Hunt and had never made a public speech before, except to talk to his workers. He believed in keeping them informed of how the business was doing, telling them when a big contract had come their way and how long they had to fulfil it and congratulating them if they fulfilled it on time, paying them a bonus, as well. They worked the better for it. Now he had to make a speech to his peers, men who probably held the same views as Sir John and whom he had to persuade. He had covered several sheets of paper, all of which he had screwed up and thrown aside, when Mark came in.

‘You look as if you’ve been busy,’ his cousin commented.

‘All to no purpose. I can’t seem to find the right words.’

‘The words you used the other night sounded good to me.’

‘Two or three sentences when I have to write a whole speech. And my audience will be less sympathetic than you.’

‘Make your speech to me and I will act as devil’s advocate.’ Mark laughed. ‘I will even heckle you, if you like, and see how you deal with it.’

* * *

An hour later Adam was feeling a great deal better about the ordeal.

‘You are much more convincing when you speak from the heart,’ Mark told him. ‘You don’t need to write out the whole speech. Simple notes will suffice to get you going.’

‘Do you think I have a chance of swaying any of them?’

‘Those who are undecided, perhaps, but the diehards will be more difficult. You might have more luck in the Commons, if you could find a sympathetic member to take up the cudgels.’

‘I know neither of the members for Lancashire will do anything. They are in Sir John’s pocket. Two members of parliament for a whole populous county and two for a little place like Dunwich, which has all but disappeared into the German Ocean, is ridiculous. Parliamentary reform is long overdue.’

‘I agree, but you will hardly persuade the members for those rotten boroughs to give up their seats.’

‘Now, if workingmen could vote, that would be different,’ Adam went on. ‘And if they could also stand for election, we might have a more equitable means of governing the country.’

Mark laughed. ‘And that is what you advocate, is it? I advise you to take one step at a time, coz, if you don’t want to sink your whole argument. Now, you have done enough. I am hungry. What do you say to repairing to the club for something to eat? Then I will tell you my plans and you can advise me.’

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