“ThinkingasmachasIdoofMr。Vane，Iconfessthatyourviewsatthattimeratherdisturbedme。Itisamatterofrelieftolearnthatyouhaverefusedtolendyourselftotheschemesofmenlikeourneighbour，Mr。HumphreyCrewe，ofLeith。“
“Honestycompelsmetoadmit，“answeredAusten，“thatIdidnotrefrainonMr。Crewe\'saccount。“
“Although，“saidMr。Flint，drummingonthetable，“therewassometalkthatyouweretobebroughtforwardasadarkhorseintheconvention，andasacandidateunfriendlytotheinterestsoftheNortheasternRailroads，Iamgladyoudidnotconsenttobeputinanysuchposition。
Iperceivethatayoungmanofyourabilityand——popularity，aVaneofCamdenStreet，mustinevitablybecomeaforceinthisState。Andasaforce，youmustretaintheconservatismoftheVanes——thetraditionalconservatismoftheState。TheNortheasternRailroadswillcontinuetobeaverylargefactorinthelifeofthepeopleafteryouandIaregone，Mr。Vane。Youwillhavetolive，asitwere，withthatcorporation，andhelptopreserveit。Weshallhavetoworktogether，perhaps，tothatend——whocansay？Irepeat，IamgladthatyourgoodsenseledyoutorefrainfromcomingasacandidatebeforethatConvention。Thereistimeenoughinthefuture，andyoucouldnothavebeennominated。“
“Onthecontrary，“answeredAusten，quietly，“Icouldhavebeennominated。“