I was so proud when they made him Prime Minister;
but I think that I am beginning to regret it now." Then there was a
pause, and the Duchess went on with her newspapers; but she soon
resumed her discourse. Her heart was full, and out of a full heart
the mouth speaks. "They should have made me Prime Minister, and have
let him be Chancellor of the Exchequer. I begin to see the ways of
Government now. I could have done all the dirty work. I could have
given away garters and ribbons, and made my bargains while giving
them. I could select sleek, easy bishops who wouldn't be troublesome.
I could give pensions or withhold them, and make the stupid men
peers. I could have the big noblemen at my feet, praying to be
Lieutenants of Counties. I could dole out secretaryships and
lordships, and never a one without getting something in return. I
could brazen out a job and let the 'People's Banners' and the Slides
make their worst of it. And I think I could make myself popular with
my party, and do the high-flowing patriotic talk for the benefit of
the Provinces. A man at a regular office has to work. That's what
Plantagenet is fit for. He wants always to be doing something that
shall be really useful, and a man has to toil at that and really to
know things. But a Prime Minister should never go beyond generalities
about commerce, agriculture, peace, and general philanthropy. Of
course he should have the gift of the gab, and that Plantagenet
hasn't got. He never wants to say anything unless he has got
something to say. I could do a Mansion House dinner to a marvel!"

"I don't doubt that you could speak at all times, Lady Glen."

"Oh, I do so wish that I had the opportunity," said the Duchess.

Of course the Duke had read the article in the privacy of his own
room, and of course the article had nearly maddened him with anger
and grief. As the Duchess had said, the article had taken from him
the very ground on which his friends had told him that he could
stand. He had never consented, and never would consent, to lay the
blame publicly on his wife; but he had begun to think that he must
take notice of the charge made against him, and deputize some one to
explain for him in the House of Commons that the injury had been done
at Silverbridge by the indiscretion of an agent who had not fulfilled
his employer's intentions, and that the Duke had thought it right
afterwards to pay the money in consequence of this indiscretion. He
had not agre