Part 41 (1/2)
”He might have been a Dean if he had been a practical man,” whispered Lady Montfort to Mr. Neuchatel, ”and on the high road to a bishopric.”
”That is what we want, Lady Montfort,” said Mr. Neuchatel; ”we want a few practical men. If we had a practical man as Chancellor of the Exchequer, we should not be in the sc.r.a.pe in which we now are.”
”It is not likely that Penruddock will leave the Church with a change of government possibly impending. We could do nothing for him with his views, but he will wait for Peel.”
”Oh! Peel will never stand those high-fliers. He put the Church into a Lay Commission during his last government.”
”Penruddock will never give up Anglicanism while there is a chance of becoming a Laud. When that chance vanishes, trust my word, Penruddock will make his bow to the Vatican.”
”Well, I must say,” said Lord Roehampton, ”if I were a clergyman I should be a Roman Catholic.”
”Then you could not marry. What a compliment to Lady Roehampton!”
”Nay; it is because I could not marry that I am not a clergyman.”
Endymion had taken Adriana down to dinner. She looked very well, and was more talkative than usual.
”I fear it will be a very great confusion--this general election,” she said. ”Papa was telling us that you think of being a candidate.”
”I am a candidate, but without a seat to captivate at present,” said Endymion; ”but I am not without hopes of making some arrangement.”
”Well, you must tell me what your colours are.”
”And will you wear them?”
”Most certainly; and I will work you a banner if you be victorious.”
”I think I must win with such a prospect.”
”I hope you will win in everything.”
When the ladies retired, Berengaria came and sate by the side of Lady Roehampton.
”What a dreary dinner!” she said.
”Do you think so?”
”Well, perhaps it was my own fault. Perhaps I am not in good cue, but everything seems to me to go wrong.”
”Things sometimes do go wrong, but then they get right.”
”Well, I do not think anything will ever get right with me.”
”Dear Lady Montfort, how can you say such things? You who have, and have always had, the world at your feet--and always will have.”
”I do not know what you mean by having the world at my feet. It seems to me that I have no power whatever--I can do nothing. I am vexed about this business of your brother. Our people are so stupid. They have no resource. When I go to them and ask for a seat, I expect a seat, as I would a shawl at Howell and James' if I asked for one. Instead of that they only make difficulties. What our party wants is a Mr. Tadpole; he out-manoeuvres them in every corner.”
”Well, I shall be deeply disappointed--deeply pained,” said Lady Roehampton, ”if Endymion is not in this parliament, but if we fail I will not utterly despair. I will continue to do what I have done all my life, exert my utmost will and power to advance him.”
”I thought I had will and power,” said Lady Montfort, ”but the conceit is taken out of me. Your brother was to me a source of great interest, from the first moment that I knew him. His future was an object in life, and I thought I could mould it. What a mistake! Instead of making his fortune I have only dissipated his life.”