Part 42 (2/2)

Asquith had returned to the House when the division bell rang--had disappeared; and e finished our conversation the Terrace was deserted and the sky light

We ernon West--a very dear and early friend of mine--and after thiseach other constantly I found out fro he said to me that he was married and lived at Hampstead and that his days were divided between 1 Paper Buildings and the House of Commons He told me that he had always been a shy lad that I did not observe it at the time, as shy people disconcerted me: I liked modesty, I pitied timidity, but I was embarrassed by shyness

I cannot truly say, however, that the word shy described auche in movement and blushed when he was praised, but I have never seen him nervous with any one or e instinct into all sorts of people and affairs--quite apart fro--and his incredible lack of vanity struckevery ree; and he retains to this day an incurable modesty

When I discovered that he washis wife to dinner, which he did, and directy I saw her I said:

”I do hope, Mrs Asquith, you have not athered Haet back to you from the House of Commons You must always let me know and co this profound and attaching friendshi+p with the stranger of that House of Commons dinner, I had placed myself in a difficult position when Helen Asquith died To be a stepwife and a stepmother was unthinkable, but at the sareat change in my life--had become inevitable I had written to Peter Flower before we parted every day for nine years--with the exception of thefroht, but it had not brought more than happiness to both of us; and when I deliberately said good-bye to hie of my life which, even if I had wished to, I could never have reopened When Henry told me he cared for me, that unstifled inner voice which we all of us hear more or less indistinctly told me I would be untrue to myself and quite unworthy of life if, when such ait wide open The ru to consternation in certain circles Both Lord Rosebery and Lord Randolph Churchill, without ie, nor were they by any ht ruin the life of a pro politician Some of my own friends were equally apprehensive froed with a ready-ht up very differently froames and cared for no sport, in London instead of in the country, with no ht, taking too many risks

My Melton friends said it was a terrible waste that I was notned a round-robin to iht think it iement caused a sensation in the East-end of London as well as the West The folloas posted toof the ”unemployed” held on Tower Hill yesterday afternoon, John E Williaaniser appointed by the Social Deone through the West-end squares and had let the ”loafers” living there know that they were alive On the previous evening he had seen an announceht, had caused tears to run down his face, for he had thought it read, ”Mr Asquith going to beto be ly proposed that the une the exaht hon gentlee Heof the une that Mr Asquith is about to enter the holy bonds ofhe has no sympathy for the unemployed, and that he has lately used his position in the House of Commons to insult the unemployed, trusts that his partner will be one of the worst tartars it is possible for a man to have, and that his family troubles will compel him to retire fro of the resolution was followed by loud laughter and cheers Mr Crouch (National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives) seconded the e number of other speakers and adopted

I wasHenry's life than my own, and ith old ties and bothers, and new ties and stepchildren, I deliberated a long ti-day

I had never aged and he only took me to see them once before ere e of a kind and careful governess; he never spoke of theht they would hate rave imperfections and moderate qualifications for the part, he stopped me and said that his eldest son, Ray thoughtfully:

”I think--and hope--he is ambitious”

This was a new idea toah spirits and not te to the nursery dictum The remark profoundly impressed me and I pondered it over in my heart I do not think, by the way, that it turned out to be a true prophecy, but Rayifts that no one could have convicted him of lack of ambition To ithout work, to score without an effort and to delight without pree with Sir Henry and Lady Ca and the , dear old Mrs Gladstone and other elderly ladies and political wives took me on as to the duties of the spouse of a possible Prime Minister; they were so eloquent and severe that at the end of it e

When Mr Gladstone ca to his arm, I switched him into a corner and said I feared the ladies took ive up, a He patted my hand, said he knew no one better fitted to be the wife of a great politician thanthat, while I was entitled to discard exaggeration in rebuke, it was a great ht turn it to good account

I have often thought of this when I see how brittle and egotistical people are at the set over my surprise, old as I am, at the surly moral manners, the lack of humbleness and the colossal personal vanity that are the bed-rock of people's incapacity to take criticised by this test, e to escape the cataract of advice by which ht to secure both my husband's and e

My friends and advisers made me unhappy at this ti person and, in spite of the anxiety of the friends and relations, ere e's, Hanover Square, on May the 10th, 1894 I doubt if any bride ever received so e letters as I did There was one which I kept in front of ed I shall not say who it is from, as the writer is alive:

MY DEAR MARGOT,

You are not different to other people except in this respect--you have a clear, cold head, and a hot, keen heart, and you won't find EVERYTHING; so choose what lasts, and with luck and with pluck, hest ood for you He is not conventional, and will give you a great deal of freedom He worshi+ps you, and understands you, and is bent on ether

You area very uncommon man--not so much intellectually-- but he is uncommon from his Determination, Reality and concentrated power of love Don't pity yourself--you would not wish to have loved Peter less--though you ht wish you had never seen him--but you must know you have allowed too much love in your life, and must bear the consequences Deep down in your heart you ht to put a stop to your present life, and to the te people love you Depend upon it with your rich and war Asquith intensely By e and nobility, instead of a woent You are lucky after your rather dangerous life to have found such a haven and should bless God for it

In those days it was less co The first e I ever sahich collected a croas Lady Crewe's, but her father, Lord Rosebery, was a Derby winner and Prime Minister and she was married in Weste's, Hanover Square, is a short distance, but from our front door to the church the pavements were blocked with excited and enthusiastic people

An old nurse of entleive you L10 for that ticket of yours!” and when she refused he said, ”I will give you ANYTHING YOU LIKE! I ot Tennant married!” I asked her what sort of a entleardenia in his buttonhole, but he didn't get ned by four Prime Ministers: Mr Gladstone, Lord Rosebery, Arthur Balfour and my husband We spent the first part of our honeymoon at Mells Park, Frome, lent to us by Sir John and Lady Horner, and the second at Clovelly Court with our friend and hostess, Mrs Hamlyn

CHAPTER VI

THE ASQUITH CHILDREN BY THE FIRST MARRIAGE--MARGOT'S STEPDAUGHTER VIOLET--MEMORY OF THE FIRST MRS ASQUITH--RAYMOND'S BRILLIANT CAREER--ARTHUR'S HEROISM IN THE WAR