n I heard that you had determined to go to Gatherum
Castle this year."

"If a man has a big house I suppose he ought to live in it,
sometimes."

"Certainly. It was for such purposes as this now intended that your
uncle built it. He never became a public man, and therefore, though
he went there, every year I believe, he never really used it."

"He hated it,--in his heart. And so do I. And so does Glencora. I
don't see why any man should have his private life interrupted by
being made to keep a huge caravansary open for persons he doesn't
care a straw about."

"You would not like to live alone."

"Alone,--with my wife and children,--I would certainly, during a
portion of the year at least."

"I doubt whether such a life, even for a month, even for a week, is
compatible with your duties. You would hardly find it possible. Could
you do without your private secretaries? Would you know enough of
what is going on, if you did not discuss matters with others? A man
cannot be both private and public at the same time."

"And therefore one has to be chopped up, like 'a reed out of the
river,' as the poet said, 'and yet not give sweet music afterwards.'"
The Duke of St. Bungay said nothing in answer to this, as he did not
understand the chopping of the reed. "I'm afraid I've been wrong
about this collection of people down at Gatherum," continued the
younger Duke. "Glencora is impulsive, and has overdone the thing.
Just look at that." And he handed a letter to his friend. The old
Duke put on his spectacles and read the letter through,--which ran as
follows:

Private.

MY LORD DUKE,--

I do not doubt but that your Grace is aware of my position
in regard to the public press of the country, and I beg to
assure your Grace that my present proposition is made, not
on account of the great honour and pleasure which would be
conferred upon myself should your Grace accede to it, but
because I feel assured that I might so be best enabled to
discharge an important duty for the benefit of the public
generally.

Your Grace is about to receive the whole fashionable world
of England and many distinguished foreign ambassadors at
your ancestral halls, not solely for social delight,--for
a man in your Grace's high position is not able to think
only of a pleasant life,--but in order that the prestige
of your combined Ministry may be so best maintained. That
your Grace is thereby doin