uppose that he would have what the people
call the Castle interest."

"And I had done so much to prevent it!"

"What's the use of going back to that now, unless you want me to put
my neck down to be trodden on? I am confessing my own sins as fast as
I can."

"God knows I would not have you trodden on."

"I am willing,--if it be necessary. Then came the question;--as I had
done this evil, how was it to be rectified? Any man with a particle
of spirit would have taken his rubs and said nothing about it. But as
this man asked for the money, it was right that he should have it. If
it is all made public he won't get very well out of it."

"What does that matter to me?"

"Nor shall I;--only luckily I do not mind it."

"But I mind it for you."

"You must throw me to the whale. Let somebody say in so many words
that the Duchess did so and so. It was very wicked no doubt; but they
can't kill me,--nor yet dismiss me. And I won't resign. In point of
fact I shan't be a penny the worse for it."

"But I should resign."

"If all the Ministers in England were to give up as soon as their
wives do foolish things, that question about the Queen's Government
would become very difficult."

"They may do foolish things, dear; and yet--"

"And yet what?"

"And yet not interfere in politics."

"That's all you know about it, Plantagenet. Doesn't everybody know
that Mrs. Daubeny got Dr. MacFuzlem made a bishop, and that Mrs.
Gresham got her husband to make that hazy speech about women's
rights, so that nobody should know which way he meant to go? There
are others just as bad as me, only I don't think they get blown up so
much. You do now as I ask you."

"I couldn't do it, Cora. Though the stain were but a little spot, and
the thing to be avoided political destruction, I could not ride out
of the punishment by fixing that stain on my wife. I will not have
your name mentioned. A man's wife should be talked about by no one."

"That's high-foluting, Plantagenet."

"Glencora, in these matters you must allow me to judge for myself,
and I will judge. I will never say that I didn't do it;--but that it
was my wife who did."

"Adam said so,--because he chose to tell the truth."

"And Adam has been despised ever since,--not because he ate the
apple, but because he imputed the eating of it to a woman. I will
not do it. We have had enough of this now." Then she turned to go
away,--but he called her back. "Kiss me, dear," he said. Then