ould make his
weight felt in politics. The best judges are confident that the
ministry will have to appeal to the country on this question of further
Reform, and Mr. Grandcourt should be ready for the opportunity. I am
not quite sure that his opinions and mine accord entirely; I have not
heard him express himself very fully. But I don't look at the matter
from that point of view. I am thinking of your husband's standing in
the country. And he has now come to that stage of life when a man like
him should enter into public affairs. A wife has great influence with
her husband. Use yours in that direction, my dear."

The rector felt that he was acquitting himself of a duty here, and
giving something like the aspect of a public benefit to his niece's
match. To Gwendolen the whole speech had the flavor of bitter comedy.
If she had been merry, she must have laughed at her uncle's explanation
to her that he had not heard Grandcourt express himself very fully on
politics. And the wife's great influence! General maxims about husbands
and wives seemed now of a precarious usefulness. Gwendolen herself had
once believed in her future influence as an omnipotence in
managing--she did not know exactly what. But her chief concern at
present was to give an answer that would be felt appropriate.

"I should be very glad, uncle. But I think Mr. Grandcourt would not
like the trouble of an election--at least, unless it could be without
his making speeches. I thought candidates always made speeches."

"Not necessarily--to any great extent," said Mr. Gascoigne. "A man of
position and weight can get on without much of it. A county member need
have very little trouble in that way, and both out of the House and in
it is liked the better for not being a speechifier. Tell Mr. Grandcourt
that I say so."

"Here comes Jocosa with my chocolate after all," said Gwendolen,
escaping from a promise to give information that would certainly have
been received in a way inconceivable to the good rector, who, pushing
his chair a little aside from the table and crossing his leg, looked as
well as if he felt like a worthy specimen of a clergyman and magistrate
giving experienced advice. Mr. Gascoigne had come to the conclusion
that Grandcourt was a proud man, but his own self-love, calmed through
life by the consciousness of his general value and personal advantages,
was not irritable enough to prevent him from hoping the best about his
niece's husband because