A very
careful young man like Lord Popplecourt might reject a young woman
because her hair didn't suit the colour of his furniture.'
'I don't think that I shall choose my wife as I would papers and
carpets.'
The Duke, who sat between Lady Cantrip and her daughter, did his
best to make himself agreeable. The conversation had been semi-
political,--political to the usual feminine extent, and had
consisted chiefly of sarcasms from Lady Cantrip against Sir
Timothy Beeswax. 'That England should put up with such a man,'
Lady Cantrip had said, 'is to me shocking! There used to be a
feeling in favour of gentlemen.' To this the Duke had responded
by asserting that Sir Timothy had displayed great aptitudes for
parliamentary life, and knew the House of Commons better than most
men. He said nothing against his foe, and very much in his foe's
praise. But Lady Cantrip perceived that she had succeeded in
pleasing him.
When the ladies were gone the politics became more serious. 'That
unfortunate quarrel is to go on the same as ever I suppose,' said
the Duke, addressing himself to the two young men who had seats in
the House of Commons.
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