第26章

When a man, perhaps through a long political life, has bound himself to a certain code of opinions, how can he change that code at a moment? And when at the same moment, together with the change, he secures power, patronage, and pay, how shall the public voice absolve him? But then again, men, who have by the work of their lives grown into a certain position in the country, and have unconsciously but not therefore less actually made themselves indispensable either to this side of politics, or to that, cannot free themselves altogether from the responsibility of managing them when a period comes such as that now reached.

This also the newspapers perceived, and having, since the commencement of the session been very loud in exposing the disgraceful collapse of government affairs, could hardly refuse their support to any attempt at a feasible arrangement.When it was first known that the Duke of Omnium had consented to make the attempt, they had both on one side and the other been loud in his praise, going so far as to say that he was the only man in England who could do the work.It was probably this encouragement which had enabled the new Premier to go on with an undertaking which was personally distasteful to him, and for which from day to day he believed himself to be less and less fit.But when the newspapers told him that he was the only man for the occasion, how could he be justified in crediting himself in preference to them?

The work in Parliament began under the new auspices with great tranquillity.That there would soon come causes of hot blood,--the English Church, the county suffrage, the income tax, and further education questions,--all men knew who knew anything.

But for the moment, for the months even, perhaps for the session, there was to be peace, with full latitude for the performance of routine duties.There was so to say no opposition, and at first it seemed that one special bench in the House of Commons would remain unoccupied.But after a day or two,--on one which Mr Daubney had been seen sitting just below the gangway,--that gentleman returned to the place usually held by the Prime Minister's rival, saying with a smile that it might be for the convenience of the House that the seat should be utilized.Mr Gresham, at this time, had with declared purpose, asked and obtained the Speaker's leave of absence, and was abroad.Who should lead the House? That had been a great question, caused by the fact that the Prime Minister was in the House of Lords;--and what office should the leader hold? Mr Monk had consented to take the Exchequer, but the right to sit opposite to the Treasure Box and to consider himself for the time the principal spirit in that chamber was at last assigned to Sir Orlando Drought.'It will never do,' said Mr Rattler to Mr Roby.'I don't mean to say anything against Drought, who had always been a very useful man to your party;--but he lacks something of the position.'

'The fact is,' said Roby, 'that we've trusted to two men so long that we don't know how to suppose anyone else big enough to fill their places.Monk wouldn't have done.The House doesn't care about Monk.'

'I always thought it should have been Wilson, and so I told the Duke.He had an idea that it should be one of your men.'

'I think he's right there,' said Roby.'There ought to be something like a fair division.Individuals might be content, but the party would be dissatisfied.For myself, I'd have sooner stayed out as an independent member, but Daubney said that he thought I was bound to make myself useful.'

'I told the Duke from the beginning,' said Rattler, 'that Ididn't think that I could be of any service to him.Of course, Iwould support him, but I had been too thoroughly a party man for a new movement of this kind.But he said just the same?--that he considered I was bound to join him.I asked Gresham, and when Gresham said so too, of course I had no help for it.'

Neither of these excellent public servants had told a lie in this.Some such conversations as those reported had passed;--but a man doesn't lie when he exaggerates an emphasis, or even when he gives by a tone a meaning to a man's words exactly opposite to that which another tone would convey.Or, if he does lie in doing so, he does not know that he lies.Mr Rattler had gone back to his old office at the Treasury and Mr Roby had been forced to content himself with the Secretaryship at the Admiralty.But, as the old Duke had said, they were close friends, and prepared to fight together any battle which might keep them in the present position.

Many of the cares of office the Prime Minister did succeed in shuffling off altogether on to the shoulders of his elder friend.

He would not concern himself with the appointment of ladies, about whom he said he knew nothing, and as to whose fitness and claims he professed himself to be as ignorant as the office messenger.The offers were of course made in the usual form, as though coming direct from the Queen, through the Prime Minister;--but the selections were in truth effected by the old Duke in council with--an illustrious personage.The matter affected our Duke,--only in so far as he could get out of his mind that strange application from his own wife.'That she should have even dreamed of it!' he would say to himself, not yet having acquired sufficient experience of his fellow creatures to be aware how wonderfully temptations will affect even those who appear to be least subject to them.The town horse, used to gaudy trappings, no doubt despises the work of his country brother; but yet, now and again, there comes upon him a sudden desire to plough.The desire for ploughing had come upon the Duchess, but the Duke could not understand it.