But, at least he thought they were
his children. See how much he knows about them! He hasn't seen his
children for years; he would have left them and their mother to starve,
and did, but for shame and fear. The old man, his father, pensioned them,
and he hasn't the heart to stop their wages now. Men of Newcome, will you
have this man to represent you in Parliament?" And the crowd roared "No;"
and Barnes and his shamefaced committee slunk out of the place, and no
wonder the dissenting clerical gentlemen were shy of voting for him.
A brilliant and picturesque diversion in Colonel Newcome's favour was due
to the inventive genius of his faithful aide-de-camp, F. B. On the
polling-day, as the carriages full of voters came up to the market-place,
there appeared nigh to the booths an open barouche, covered all over with
ribbon, and containing Frederick Bayham, Esq., profusely decorated with
the Colonel's colours, and a very old woman and her female attendant, who
were similarly ornamented.
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