Bradshaw and the Mr. Donne that they hope
to send up to the House of Commons, as member of Parliament for
Eccleston, and another gentleman, whose name I never heard. They
had come canvassing; and when they found my brother was out, they
asked Leonard if they could see me. The child said, 'Yes! if I
could leave the damsons;' and straightway came to call me,
leaving them standing in the passage. I whipped off my apron, and
took Leonard by the hand, for I fancied I should feel less
awkward if he was with me; and then I went and asked them all
into the study, for I thought I should like them to see how many
books Thurstan had got. Then they began talking politics at me in
a very polite manner, only I could not make head or tail of what
they meant; and Mr. Donne took a deal of notice of Leonard, and
called him to him; and I am sure he noticed what a noble,
handsome boy he was, though his face was very brown and red, and
hot with digging, and his curls all tangled. Leonard talked back
as if he had known him all his life, till, I think Mr. Bradshaw
thought he was making too much noise, and bid him remember he
ought to be seen, not heard. So he stood as still and stiff as a
soldier, close to Mr. Donne; and as I could not help looking at
the two, and thinking how handsome they both were in their
different ways, I could not tell Thurstan half the messages the
gentlemen left for him. But there was one thing more I must tell
you, though I said I would not.
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