"I should be ashamed to marry any one who had not the suffrage," said
Harriet.

"He is no better than a slave," said Julia.

The widow shook her head. "I don't like these politics," said the good
woman, "they bayn't in a manner business for our sex."

"And I should like to know why?" said Julia. "Ayn't we as much concerned
in the cause of good government as the men? And don't we understand
as much about it? I am sure the Dandy never does anything without
consulting me."

"It's fine news for a summer day," said Caroline, "to say we can't
understand politics with a Queen on the throne."

"She has got her ministers to tell her what to do," said Mrs Carey,
taking a pinch of snuff. "Poor innocent young creature, it often makes
my heart ache to think how she is beset."

"Over the left," said Julia. "If the ministers try to come into her
bed-chamber, she knows how to turn them to the right about."

"And as for that," said Harriet, "why are we not to interfere with
politics as much as the swell ladies in London?"

"Don't you remember, too, at the last election here," said Caroline,
"how the fine ladies from the Castle came and canvassed for Colonel
Rosemary?"

"Ah!" said Julia, "I must say I wish the Colonel had beat that horrid
Muddlefist. If we can't have our own man, I am all for the Nobs against
the Middle Class."

"We'll have our own man soon, I expect," said Harriet. "If the people
don't work, how are the aristocracy to pay the police?"

"Only think!" said Widow Carey shaking her head. "Why, at your time of
life, my dears, we never even heard of these things, much less talked of
them."

"I should think you didn't, widow, and because why?" said Julia;
"because there was no march of mind then. But we know the time of day
now as well as any of them."

"Lord, my dear," said Mrs Carey; "what's the use of all that? What
we want is, good wages and plenty to do; and as for the rest, I don't
grudge the Queen her throne, nor the noblemen and gentlemen their good
things. Live and let live say I."

"Why, you are a regular oligarch, widow," said Harriet.

"Well, Miss Harriet," replied Mrs Carey, a little nettled; "'tisn't
calling your neighbours names that settles any question. I'm quite sure
that Julia will agree to that, and Caroline too. And perhaps I might
call you something if I chose, Miss Harriet; I've heard things said
before this, that I should blush to say, and blush to hear too. But I
won't demean myse