The Life Of Charles Stewart Parnell - Ii

afi6 CHARLES STEWART PARNELL [1886
/Parnell looked around, and his quick eye soon picked
ime out. He walked across to my table, and said, " May
;I dine with you, Corbet?" "My dear Parnell," I
.-replied, " I am only delighted to have you with me."
;He looked worried, ill, broken down. "Parnell," I
said, "is there anything wrong? You look upset."
•"No," he replied, "I am not very well just now,
and things unnerve me. I shall be all right when
I have had some dinner." I said, "Parnell, will you
let an old friend and neighbour take a liberty with
you?" "Certainly, Corbet," he answered;" what
is it?"
'"You are not well," I said; "you look tired and
• worn out. For heaven's sake, fling up everything and go away. The Government cannot do us much harm
"if you go away for a few months ; do take a complete rest. Suppose you break down altogether, what will •happen then?" " Oh, I won't break down," he said,
• quickly pulling himself together; "I'll be all right soon." "But," I urged, "why not go away even for two months?
*Two months' complete rest, free from all anxiety, would set you up at once." "I cannot go away," he said wearily. "I am not afraid of the Government; they •can't do us much harm for a few months, as you say,
• and I am not going to fight them just at present. I am thinking of our own party. I cannot leave them. I must
• -keep my eye on them and hold them together. But" ' (brightening up) " I mean to rest, Corbet, I mean to -take it easy for a bit. But I cannot go away." After-•wards I heard that he had had an unpleasant meeting— that the men were all at sixes and sevens, and that he Jiad a good deal of trouble in smoothing over difficulties and in making peace. He was always smoothing over <difficulties, making peace, and holding us together:' the Home tittle Bill