They'll not fall off, will
they?'
'No fear of that, my lord,' said Gashford, with a meaning look, which
was rather the involuntary expression of his own thoughts than intended
as any confirmation of his words, for the other's face was turned away.
'Be sure there is no fear of that.'
'Nor,' he said with a more restless motion than before, 'of their--but
they CAN sustain no harm from leaguing for this purpose. Right is on
our side, though Might may be against us. You feel as sure of that as
I--honestly, you do?'
The secretary was beginning with 'You do not doubt,' when the other
interrupted him, and impatiently rejoined:
'Doubt. No. Who says I doubt? If I doubted, should I cast away
relatives, friends, everything, for this unhappy country's sake; this
unhappy country,' he cried, springing up in bed, after repeating the
phrase 'unhappy country's sake' to himself, at least a dozen times,
'forsaken of God and man, delivered over to a dangerous confederacy of
Popish powers; the prey of corruption, idolatry, and despotism! Who says
I doubt? Am I called, and chosen, and faithful? Tell me. Am I, or am I
not?'
'To God, the country, and yourself,' cried Gashford.
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