me and goads me, and will drive me
to madness as a foe." Then the pachydermatous one enters into the
other's heaven, probably with the resolution already formed of
ousting that unhappy angel. And so it was in the present instance.
When Mr. Gresham's completed list was published to the world, the
world was astonished to find that Sir Timothy was to be Mr. Gresham's
Attorney-General. Sir Gregory Grogram became Lord Chancellor, and the
Liberal chief was content to borrow his senior law adviser from the
Conservative side of the late Coalition. It could not be that Mr.
Gresham was very fond of Sir Timothy;--but Sir Timothy in the late
debates had shown himself to be a man of whom a minister might well
be afraid.

Immediately on leaving the old Duke's house, the late Premier went
home to his wife, and, finding that she was out, waited for her
return. Now that he had put his own decision beyond his own power he
was anxious to let her know how it was to be with them. "I think it
is settled at last," he said.

"And you are coming back?"

"Certainly not that. I believe I may say that Mr. Gresham is Prime
Minister."

"Then he oughtn't to be," said the Duchess crossly.

"I am sorry that I must differ from you, my dear, because I think he
is the fittest man in England for the place."

"And you?"

"I am a private gentleman who will now be able to devote more of his
time to his wife and children than has hitherto been possible with
him."

"How very nice! Do you mean to say that you like it?"

"I am sure that I ought to like it. At the present moment I am
thinking more of what you will like."

"If you ask me, Plantagenet, you know I shall tell the truth."

"Then tell the truth."

"After drinking brandy so long I hardly think that 12s. claret will
agree with my stomach. You ask for the truth, and there it is,--very
plainly."

"Plain enough!"

"You asked, you know."

"And I am glad to have been told, even though that which you tell
me is not pleasant hearing. When a man has been drinking too much
brandy, it may be well that he should be put on a course of 12s.
claret."

"He won't like it; and then,--it's kill or cure."

"I don't think you're gone so far, Cora, that we need fear that the
remedy will be fatal."

"I am thinking of you rather than myself. I can make myself generally
disagreeable, and get excitement in that way. But what will you do?
It's all very well to talk of me and the children, but you can't