Part 33 (1/2)
”We have seen strange things,” said Mr Berners.
”They never would think of breaking up the government without making their peers,” said Mr Egerton.
”The Queen is not over partial to making more peers; and when parties are in the present state of equality, the Sovereign is no longer a mere pageant.”
”They say her Majesty is more touched about these affairs of the Chartists than anything else,” said Mr Egerton.
”They are rather queer; but for my part I have no serious fears of a Jacquerie.”
”Not if it comes to an outbreak; but a pa.s.sive resistance Jacquerie is altogether a different thing. When we see a regular Convention a.s.sembled in London and holding its daily meetings in Palace Yard; and a general inclination evinced throughout the country to refrain from the consumption of exciseable articles, I cannot help thinking that affairs are more serious than you imagine. I know the government are all on the 'qui vive.'”
”Just the fellows we wanted!” exclaimed Lord Fitz-Heron, who was leaning on the arm of Lord Milford, and who met Mr Egerton and his friend in Pall Mall.
”We want a brace of pairs,” said Lord Milford. ”Will you two fellows pair?”
”I must go down,” said Mr Egerton; ”but I will pair from halfpast seven to eleven.”
”I just paired with Ormsby at White's,” said Berners; ”not half an hour ago. We are both going to dine at Eskdale's, and so it was arranged.
Have you any news to-day?”
”Nothing; except that they say that Alfred Mountchesney is going to marry Lady Joan Fitz-Warene,” said Lord Milford.
”She has been given to so many,” said Mr Egerton.
”It is always so with these great heiresses,” said his companion. ”They never marry. They cannot bear the thought of sharing their money. I bet Lady Joan will turn out another specimen of the TABITHA CROESUS.”
”Well, put down our pair, Egerton,” said Lord Fitz-Heron. ”You do not dine at Sidonia's by any chance?”
”Would that I did! You will have the best dishes and the best guests. I feed at old Malton's; perhaps a tete a tete: Scotch broth, and to tell him the news!”
”There is nothing like being a dutiful nephew, particularly when one's uncle is a bachelor and has twenty thousand a-year,” said Lord Milford.
”Au revoir! I suppose there will be no division to-night.”
”No chance.”
Egerton and Berners walked on a little further. As they came to the Golden Ball, a lady quitting the shop was just about to get into her carriage; she stopped as she recognized them. It was Lady Firebrace.
”Ah! Mr Berners, how d'ye do? You were just the person I wanted to see!
How is Lady Augusta, Mr Egerton? You have no idea, Mr Berners, how I have been fighting your battles!”
”Really, Lady Firebrace,” said Mr Berners rather uneasy, for he had perhaps like most of us a peculiar dislike to being attacked or cheapened. ”You are too good.”
”Oh! I don't care what a person's politics are!” exclaimed Lady Firebrace with an air of affectionate devotion. ”I should be very glad indeed to see you one of us. You know your father was! But if any one is my friend I never will hear him attacked behind his back without fighting his battles; and I certainly did fight yours last night.”
”Pray tell me where it was?”
”Lady Crumbleford--”
”Confound Lady Crumbleford!” said Mr Berners indignant but a little relieved.