CHAPTER XIX.
Lord Chiltern Rides His Horse Bonebreaker It was known that whatever might be the details of Mr.Mildmay's bill, the ballot would not form a part of it; and as there was a strong party in the House of Commons, and a very numerous party out of it, who were desirous that voting by ballot should be made a part of the electoral law, it was decided that an independent motion should be brought on in anticipation of Mr.Mildmay's bill.

The arrangement was probably one of Mr.Mildmay's own making; so that he might be hampered by no opposition on that subject by his own followers if,--as he did not doubt,--the motion should be lost.
It was expected that the debate would not last over one night, and Phineas resolved that he would make his maiden speech on this occasion.

He had very strong opinions as to the inefficacy of the ballot for any good purposes, and thought that he might be able to strike out from his convictions some sparks of that fire which used to be so plentiful with him at the old debating clubs.

But even at breakfast that morning his heart began to beat quickly at the idea of having to stand on his legs before so critical an audience.
He knew that it would be well that he should if possible get the subject off his mind during the day, and therefore went out among the people who certainly would not talk to him about the ballot.

He sat for nearly an hour in the morning with Mr.Low, and did not even tell Mr.Low that it was his intention to speak on that day.