His Grace — page 158: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

152 HIS GRACE. books and libraries? And what sort of a speech do they expect me to make, I wonder! [I'll tell you what I'll do: I’ll say I’m very sorry I can’t go, because— because I’ve got a bone in my leg; but that I’m sure my cousin Mr. Paul Gascoigne, M. P., wi! be delighted to represent me on the auspicious occasion. How would that answer?” Lady Charles didn’t think it would answer at all. Lady Charles liked ceremonies and could not approve of any plan which would have the effect of thrusting Mr. Pau] Gascoigne, M. P., into a position of undue prominence. She said: ‘“‘ My dear boy, I know it is a nuisance, but we shall make ourselves unpopular if we shirk these nuisances, and Mr. Martyn will write out your speech for you.” Mr. Martyn said “ thank you very much ;”’ and Hurst- bourne, with a growl, went on to peruse the remainder of his correspondence. When there are women about, one ought to have one’s letters brought up to one’s bedroom in the morning. I don’t suppose there is very much good in my saying this ; still, should these words chance to meet the eye of any member of my sex who may be conscious of suf- ficient strength of mind to act upon them, I feel sure that he will live to thank me. What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve over, and the heart of every woman must needs be grieved if she be not in- formed of the contents of a letter, the origin of which has been revealed to her by the stamped address upon the flap of the envelope. Now, Lady Charles had been the first to enter the dining-room, while I had been the second. Consequently we were both aware that there was a letter from Lavenham for Hurstbourne and that cS (E(@) m Gomichboo