'Nothing to speak of is so apt to grow into that which has to be
spoken of.' So much that father said at breakfast, hardly giving
his mind to the matter discussed,--his mind being on other things.
But when their breakfast was eaten, then it was necessary that he
should begin. 'Silverbridge,' he said, 'I hope you have thought
better of what we were talking about as to these coming
elections.'

'Well, sir,--of course I have thought about it.'

'And can you do as I would have you?'

'You see, sir, a man's political opinion is a kind of thing he
can't get rid of.'

'You can hardly as yet have any confirmed political opinion. You
are still young, and I do not suppose that you have thought much
about politics.'

'Well, sir; I think I have. I've got my own ideas. We've got to
protect our position as well as we can against the Radicals and
Communists.'

'I cannot admit that at all, Silverbridge. There is no great
political party in this county anxious either for communism or for
revolution. But, putting all that aside for the present, do you
think that a man's political opinions should be held in regard to
his own individual interests, or to the much wider interests of
others, whom we call the public?'