Presently there was a stir in the room. Lord Waynflete asked for his carriage.
"Don't forget, my dear lady, that you open the new Town Hall next Wednesday," he said, as he made his way to Elizabeth.
"Not at all. They only want to hear you. And there'll be a great crowd."
"Elizabeth can't speak worth a cent!" said Philip, with brotherly candour. "Can you, Lisa?"
"I don't believe it," said Lord Waynflete, "but it don't matter. All they want is that a Gaddesden should say something. Ah, Mrs. Gaddesden--how glorious the Romney looks to-night!" He turned to the fireplace, admiring the illuminated picture, his hands on his sides.
"Is it an ancestress?" Mariette addressed the question to Elizabeth.
"Yes. She had three husbands, and is supposed to have murdered the fourth," said Elizabeth drily.
"All the same she's an extremely handsome woman," put in Lord Waynflete. "And as you're the image of her, Lady Merton, you'd better not run her down." Elizabeth joined in the laugh against herself and the speaker turned to Anderson.
"You'll find this place a perfect treasure-house, Mr. Anderson, and I advise you to study it--for the Radicals won't leave any of us anything, before many years are out. You're from Manitoba? Ah, you're not troubled with any of these Socialist fellows yet! But you'll get 'em--you'll get 'em--like rats in the corn. They'll pull the old flag down if they can. But you'll help us to keep it flying. The Colonies are our hope--we look to the Colonies!"
The handsome old man raised an oratorical hand, and looked round on his audience, like one to whom public speaking was second nature.
Anderson made a gesture of assent; he was not really expected to say anything. Mariette in the background observed the speaker with an amused and critical detachment.
"Your carriage will be round directly, Lord Waynflete," said Philip, "but I don't see why you should go."
"My dear fellow--I have to catch the night train. There is a most important debate in the House of Lords to-morrow." He turned to the Canadian politely. "Of course you know there is an autumn session on. With these Radical Governments we shall soon have one every year."
"What! the Education Bill again to-morrow?" said Everett. "What are you going to do with it?"