Chapter 46

           Puesnopodemoshaberaquelloquequeremos,queramosaquelloquepodremos.

           Sincewecannotgetwhatwelike,letuslikewhatwecanget.

           —SpanishProverb.

           WhileLydgate,safelymarriedandwiththeHospitalunderhiscommand,felthimselfstrugglingforMedicalReformagainstMiddlemarch,MiddlemarchwasbecomingmoreandmoreconsciousofthenationalstruggleforanotherkindofReform.

           BythetimethatLordJohnRussell’smeasurewasbeingdebatedintheHouseofCommons,therewasanewpoliticalanimationinMiddlemarch,andanewdefinitionofpartieswhichmightshowadecidedchangeofbalanceifanewelectioncame.Andthereweresomewhoalreadypredictedthisevent,declaringthataReformBillwouldneverbecarriedbytheactualParliament.ThiswaswhatWillLadislawdweltontoMr.Brookeasareasonforcongratulationthathehadnotyettriedhisstrengthatthehustings.

           "Thingswillgrowandripenasifitwereacometyear,"saidWill."Thepublictemperwillsoongettoacometaryheat,nowthequestionofReformhassetin.Thereislikelytobeanotherelectionbeforelong,andbythattimeMiddlemarchwillhavegotmoreideasintoitshead.Whatwehavetoworkatnowisthe‘Pioneer’andpoliticalmeetings."

           "Quiteright,Ladislaw;weshallmakeanewthingofopinionhere,"saidMr.Brooke."OnlyIwanttokeepmyselfindependentaboutReform,youknow;Idon’twanttogotoofar.