Much more complicated to see through were all the little personal likings, dislikings, petty spites, foibles, hobbies, secret understandings, family jars, and so forth, which really decide a man's vote, or the scale into which he throws his influence.

There were scores of squires dotted over the county, each of whom possessed local power more or less considerable, and each of whom might perchance have private relations with men who held high office in the State.

Every family had its history and its archives containing records of negotiations with other families.

People who met with all outward friendliness, and belonged to the same party, might have grudges half a century old, but not yet forgotten.

If you made friends with one, you might mortally offend the other.