Waste | Page 2

bit like that when you came to a standstill.
AMY O'CONNELL. And they don't?
LUCY DAVENPORT. [With great decision.] Not a bit.
AMY O'CONNELL. [In her velvet tone.] I was taught the whole duty of woman by a parson-uncle who disbelieved in his Church.
WALTER KENT. When a man at Jude's was going to take orders....
AMY O'CONNELL. Jude's?
WALTER KENT. At Oxford. The dons went very gingerly with him over bits of science and history.
[This wakes a fruitful thought in JULIA FARRANT'S brain.]
MRS. FARRANT. Mamma, have you ever discussed so-called anti-Christian science with Lord Charles?
FRANCES TREBELL ... Cantelupe?
MRS. FARRANT. Yes. It was over appointing a teacher for the schools down here ... he was staying with us. The Vicar's his fervent disciple. However, we were consulted.
LUCY DAVENPORT. Didn't Lord Charles want you to send the boys there till they were ready for Harrow?
MRS. FARRANT. Yes.
FRANCES TREBELL. Quite the last thing in Toryism!
MRS. FARRANT. Mamma made George say we were too nouveau riche to risk it.
LADY DAVENPORT. [As she laughs.] I couldn't resist that.
MRS. FARRANT. [Catching something of her subject's dry driving manner.] Lord Charles takes the superior line and says ... that with his consent the Church may teach the unalterable Truth in scientific language or legendary, whichever is easier understanded of the people.
LADY DAVENPORT. Is it the prospect of Disestablishment suddenly makes him so accommodating?
FRANCES TREBELL. [With large contempt.] He needn't be. The majority of people believe the world was made in an English week.
LUCY DAVENPORT. Oh, no!
FRANCES TREBELL. No Bishop dare deny it.
MRS. FARRANT. [From the heights of experience.] Dear Lucy, do you seriously think that the English spirit--the nerve that runs down the backbone--is disturbed by new theology ... or new anything?
LADY DAVENPORT. [Enjoying her epigram.] What a waste of persecution history shows us!
WALTER KENT now captures the conversation with a very young politician's fervour.
WALTER KENT. Once they're disestablished they must make up their minds what they do believe.
LADY DAVENPORT. I presume Lord Charles thinks it'll hand the Church over to him and his ... dare I say 'Sect'?
WALTER KENT. Won't it? He knows what he wants.
MRS. FARRANT. [Subtly.] There's the election to come yet.
WALTER KENT. But now both parties are pledged to a bill of some sort.
MRS. FARRANT. Political prophecies have a knack of not coming true; but, d'you know, Cyril Horsham warned me to watch this position developing ... nearly four years ago.
FRANCES TREBELL. Sitting on the opposition bench sharpens the eye-sight.
WALTER KENT. [Ironically.] Has he been pleased with the prospect?
MRS. FARRANT. [With perfect diplomacy] If the Church must be disestablished ... better done by its friends than its enemies.
FRANCES TREBELL. Still I don't gather he's pleased with his dear cousin Charles's conduct.
MRS. FARRANT. [Shrugging.] Oh, lately, Lord Charles has never concealed his tactics.
FRANCES TREBELL. And that speech at Leeds was the crowning move I suppose; just asking the Nonconformists to bring things to a head?
MRS. FARRANT. [Judicially.] I think that was precipitate.
WALTER KENT. [Giving them LORD CHARLES'S oratory.] Gentlemen, in these latter days of Radical opportunism!--You know, I was there ... sitting next to an old gentleman who shouted "Jesuit."
FRANCES TREBELL. But supposing Mallaby and the Nonconformists hadn't been able to force the Liberals' hand?
MRS. FARRANT. [Speaking as of inferior beings.] Why, they were glad of any cry going to the Country!
FRANCES TREBELL. [As she considers this.] Yes ... and Lord Charles would still have had as good a chance of forcing Lord Horsham's. It has been clever tactics.
LUCY DAVENPORT. [Who has been listening, sharp-eyed.] Contrariwise, he wouldn't have liked a Radical Bill though, would he?
WALTER KENT. [With aplomb.] He knew he was safe from that. The government must have dissolved before Christmas anyway ... and the swing of the pendulum's a sure thing.
MRS. FARRANT. [With her smile.] It's never a sure thing.
WALTER KENT. Oh, Mrs. Farrant, look how unpopular the Liberals are.
FRANCES TREBELL. What made them bring in Resolutions?
WALTER KENT. [Overflowing with knowledge of the subject.] I was told Mallaby insisted on their showing they meant business. I thought he was being too clever ... and it turns out he was. Tommy Luxmore told me there was a fearful row in the Cabinet about it. But on their last legs, you know, it didn't seem to matter, I suppose. Even then, if Prothero had mustered up an ounce of tact ... I believe they could have pulled them through....
FRANCES TREBELL. Not the Spoliation one.
WALTER KENT. Well, Mr. Trebell dished that!
FRANCES TREBELL. Henry says his speech didn't turn a vote.
MRS. FARRANT. [With charming irony.] How disinterested of him!
WALTER KENT. [Enthusiastic.] That speech did if ever a speech did.
FRANCES TREBELL. Is there any record of a speech that ever did? He just carried his own little following with him.
MRS. FARRANT. But the crux of the whole matter is and has always been ... what's to be done with the Church's