The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
slid into sight. The figures were still missing but D'Encolseland's name was on top, and a hoarse roar of triumph came from the throats of his admirers. Then the two slides with the names were withdrawn, and the sign was again left blank. After a time the people grew unable to restrain their frantic impatience, and some of them began to groan and hoot.
After a few minutes the names again slid into view, this time with Sweater's name on top, and the figures appeared immediately afterwards.
| Sweater | ....4221 |
| D'Encloseland | ...4200 |
It was several seconds before the Liberals could believe their eyes: it was too good to be true. It is impossible to say what actually inspired the wild outburst of frenzied enthusiasm that followed, but, whatever the reason, they were all cheering and dancing and shaking hands with each other, and some of them were so overcome with joy and emotion that they were literally unable to speak.
A few minutes after the declaration Sweater appeared at the window and made a sort of a speech, but only fragments of it were audible to the yelling crowd who at intervals caught such phrases as 'Slashing Blow,' 'Sweep the country,' 'Grand old Liberal Flag,' and so on. Next D'Encloseland appeared, and he was seen to shake hands with Mr Sweater, whom he referred to as 'My friend'.
When the two 'friends' disappeared from the window, the part of the Liberal crowd that was not engaged in hand to hand fights with their enemies the Tories made a rush to the front entrance of the Town Hall where Sweater's carriage was waiting, and as soon as he had placed his plump rotundity inside they unharnessed the horses and, amid frantic cheers, dragged it through the mud and pouring rain all the way to 'The Cave'; but as most of them were accustomed to acting as beasts of burden the experience brought no novelty with it.
Then, having successfully carried the 'grand old flag to victory,' the electors, drenched, exhausted and covered with mud from head to foot, toiled back to their wretched homes.
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