ircumstances should a Christian vote for a Jew. All this she
said, in a voice not so soft as should be the voice of woman to her
betrothed.

"Dorothea," said Mr. Prong very solemnly;--they were sitting at the
time in his own little front parlour, as to the due arrangement of
the furniture in which Mrs. Prime had already ventured to make some
slight alterations which had not been received favourably by Mr.
Prong,--"Dorothea, in this matter you must allow me to be the best
judge. Voting for Members of Parliament is a thing which ladies
naturally are not called upon to understand."

"Ladies can understand as well as gentlemen," said Mrs. Prime, "that
a curse has gone out from the Lord against that people; and gentlemen
have no more right than ladies to go against the will of the Lord."

It was in vain that Mr. Prong endeavoured to explain to her that the
curse attached to the people as a nation, and did not necessarily
follow units of that people who had adopted other nationalities.

"Let the units become Christians before they go into Parliament,"
said Mrs. Prime.

"I wish they would," said Mr. Prong. "I heartily wish they would: and
Mr. Hart, if he be returned, shall have my prayers."

But this did not at all suffice for Mrs. Prime, who, perhaps, in the
matter of argument had the best of it. She told her betrothed to his
face that he was going to commit a great sin, and that he was tempted
to this sin by grievous worldly passions. When so informed Mr. Prong
closed his eyes, crossed his hands meekly on his breast, and shook
his head.

"Not from thee, Dorothea," said he, "not from thee should this have
come."

"Who is to speak out to you if I am not?" said she.

But Mr. Prong sat in silence, and with closed eyes again shook his
head.

"Perhaps we had better part," said Mrs. Prime, after an interval of
five minutes. "Perhaps it will be better for both of us."

Mr. Prong, however, still shook his head in silence; and it was
difficult for a lady in Mrs. Prime's position to read accurately the
meaning of such shakings under such circumstances. But Mrs. Prime
was a woman sufficiently versed in the world's business to be able
to resolve that she would have an answer to her question when she
required an answer.

"Mr. Prong," she said, "I remarked just now that perhaps we had
better part."

"I heard the words," said Mr. Prong,--"I heard the cruel words." But
even then he did not open his eyes, or remove his hands