out of Perry.
What do you want of me?"
"We want to strengthen your hands in dealing drastically with the
problem. Of course, it will be one of your first measures."
"We have at least six first measures already on the list," remarked the
Premier, smiling.
"I saw your daughter to-day," Mrs. Puttock continued. "I went to ask
her to join us."
"Isn't she rather young to join things?" pleaded Mr. Medland. "Poor
child! She would hardly understand what she's giving--I mean, what
she's going in for. What did she say?"
"Well, really, Mr. Medland, I think you might speak a word to her. She
told me she loved champagne and tipsy-cake. The tipsy-cake doesn't
matter, because it can be made without alcohol.--I beg your pardon?"
"I didn't speak," said the Premier.
"But champagne! At her age!"
"She's only tasted it half-a-dozen times."
"Well, I hope every one will have to give it up soon. My husband says
that the Cabinet----"
"Here's treason! Has he been telling you our secrets?"
"Secrets! Why, two-thirds of the party are pledged----"
But here Lady Eynesford again claimed the Premier's attention, and he
was really glad of it.
Dick Derosne walked home with Mr. Medland. He had intended to go
only to the gate, but Medland pressed him to go further, and, engrossed
in conversation, they reached Medland's house without separating.
"Come in and see Daisy," said Medland. "She's been alone all the
evening, poor girl, and will be glad of better company than mine."
"Oh, come, I expect she likes your society better than any one else's."
"Well, that won't last long, will it?"
They went in and found Daisy supping on the wing of a chicken, and
some wine-and-water. Medland led the way, and, as soon as his
daughter saw him, she exclaimed,
"Was it very awful, father?"
"Well, was it, Mr. Derosne?" he asked of Dick. "Daisy, this is the
Governor's brother, Mr. Derosne."
"It was awful!" said Dick, executing his bow. "Those great feeds
always are."
"Why, Daisy," exclaimed Mr. Medland, "you're drinking wine. How
about Mrs. Puttock?"
"Oh, she told you? She said it was very wicked."
"And you?"
"Oh, I said it wasn't, because you did it."
"Luckily, a conclusion may be right, though the reason for it is utterly
wrong," said the Premier.
"I," said Dick, "always admit things are wicked, you know, and say I
do 'em all the same. It saves a lot of argument."
The door opened and Mr. Norburn walked in.
"Is it too late for me to come?" he asked.
"Of course not," said Daisy, greeting him with evident pleasure, and
ensconcing him in an armchair. "We expect you to come at all the odd
times. That's the part of an intimate friend, isn't it, Mr. Derosne?"
Medland was speaking to Norburn, and Dick took the opportunity of
remarking,
"Mayn't I come at an odd time now and then?"
"Oh do. We shall be so pleased."
"Mr. Norburn doesn't come at all of them, does he?"
"At most. Do you mind that?"
"Of course I do. Who wouldn't?"
"I don't."
"No, if you did I shouldn't."
Dick was, it must be admitted, getting along very well, considering that
he had only been presented to the young lady ten minutes before. That
was Dick's way; and when the young lady is attractive, it is a way that
has many recommendations, only sometimes it leads to a pitfall--a cold
answer, or a snub.
"But why," asked Daisy, in apparent surprise, "should you mind about
what I thought? I'm afraid I should never think about whether you liked
it or not, you know."
"Good-night," said Dick. And when he got outside and was lighting his
cigar, he exclaimed, "Confound the girl!" And after a pause he added,
"Hang the fellow!" and shook his head and went home.
CHAPTER IV.
WEEDING OUT THE WEAK-KNEED.
In a short time it happened that Lady Eynesford conceived a high
opinion of Mr. Coxon. He was, she declared, the one bright spot in the
new Ministry; he possessed ability, principle, sound Churchmanship,
and gentlemanly demeanour. A young man thus equipped could hardly
fail of success, and Lady Eynesford, in spite of the Governor's
decidedly lukewarm approbation, was pleased to take the
Attorney-General under her special protection. More than once in the
next week or two did Mr. Coxon, tall-hatted, frock-coated, and
new-gloved, in obedience to cordial invitations, take tea in the
verandah of Government House. He was naturally gratified by these
attentions, and, being not devoid of ambition, soon began to look upon
his position as the starting-point for a greater prize. Lady Eynesford
was, here again, with him--up to a point. She thought (and thoughts are
apt to put themselves with a bluntness which would be inexcusable in
speech) that it was
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