Hereupon the father got up from his chair and turned round, facing
the fire, with his back to his son. He was becoming very angry,
but endeavoured to restrain his anger. The matter in dispute
between them was of so great importance, that he could hardly be
justified in abandoning it in consequence of arguments so trifling
in themselves as these which his son adduced. As he stood there
for some minutes thinking of it all, he was tempted again and
again to burst out in wrath and threaten the lad,--to threaten him
as to money, as to his amusements, as to the general tenure of his
life. The pity was so great that the lad should be so stubborn and
so foolish! He would never ask his son to be a slave to the
Liberal party, as he had been. But that a Palliser should not be a
Liberal,--and his son, as the first recreant Palliser,--was
wormwood to him! As he stood there he more than once clenched his
fist in eager desire to turn upon the young man; but he restrained
himself, telling himself that in justice he should not be angry
for such offence as this. To become a Conservative, when the path
to liberalism was so fairly open, might be the part of a fool, but
could not fairly be imputed as a crime. To endeavour to be just
was the study of his life, and in no condition of life can justice
be more imperatively due than from a father to his son.

'You mean to stand for Silverbridge?' he said at last.

'Not if you object, sir.'

This made it worse. It became now still more difficult for him to
scold the young man. 'You are aware that I should not meddle in
any way.'