ping-stone to influence and power,
or, as he conscientiously phrased it, to "opportunities for good." His
approach to this point, however, was gradual and circuitous.

"Of course it is a great honor," he began, deliberately weighing the
proposition in earthly scales, and seeming not wholly to reject it.

"That goes without saying," replied the Prime Minister, "and hardly
needs to be discussed. Our sure point of agreement is that it must not
be."

His Grace lifted his grizzled eyebrows in courteous interrogation, and
beginning delicately to disentangle the gold strings of his pince-nez
from the pectoral cross to which like a penitent it clung, said, "Of
course I perfectly understand how great a shock this has been to you. To
me also it comes as an entire surprise: my daughter has told me nothing,
and therefore--in a sense--I can say nothing till I have seen her."

"You have influence with her, I suppose?" said the Premier.

"Oh, undoubtedly."

"I am confident, then, that your Grace will use it to the right end."

"It has never been my habit, I trust, to neglect my parental
responsibilities," replied his Grace.

"I was thinking, rather, of your responsibilities to the State."

"Those, too, I shall have in mind. There is also the Church."

The Prime Minister was puzzled.

"This matter does not seem to impress your Grace quite as it does me. I
should have thought there could be no two opinions about it."

"That was too much to hope, surely? Our points of view are so very
different."

The Premier felt that plain dealing had become necessary. "It would make
quite untenable your position as leader of a party," he remarked grimly.

"I was not concerned about myself," replied his Grace with wonderful
sweetness. "As for that, I am growing old."

"But surely you agree that the thing is wholly impossible?"

"Impossible is a strong word."

"That it would profoundly alter the constitutional status of the Crown?"

"Possibly. I think not."

This slow weighing of cons in the balance was having a devastating
effect upon the minister's nerves; he got upon his feet.

"Does your Grace mean to tell me that this thing is even conceivable?"

"Conceivable? I wish you would state to me, without any fear of offense,
the whole body of your objection. I recognize, of course, that the Royal
House, in the direct line, has made no such alliance for over two
hundred years,--never, in fact, since it ceased to be of pure native
e