"Can't understand it," resumed the gloomy uncle. "I sent him word in time;
sent it from your office by messenger. It was plain enough. I told him no
money of mine would go into his campaign if he made a fool of himself--or
words to that effect."

"Phew! Cast you off, did he? Just like that?"

"Just like that! Went out of his way to overdo it, too. Needn't have come
out half so strong. No chance now to backwater--not a chance on earth
to explain what he really did mean--and make it something different."
"Quixotic! That's how it reads to me."

Uncle Martin here became oracular, his somber stick gesturing to point his
words.

"Trouble with poor George, he's been silly enough to blurt out the truth,
what every man of us thinks in his heart--"

"Eh?" said Mr. Evans quickly, as one who has been jolted.

"No more sense than to come right out and say what every one of us thinks
in his secret heart about women. I think it and you think it--"

"Oh, well, if you put it _that_ way," admitted young Mr. Evans gracefully.
"But of course--"

"Certainly, of _course!_ We all think it--sacred names of home and mother
and all the rest of it; but a man running for office these days is a chump
to say so, isn't he? Of course he is! What chance does it leave him? Answer