His Grace — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

838 HIS GRACE. was listening, that in her conversation with electors and electors’ wives she had been obliged to avoid all dis- cussion of the respective programmes of Conservatives, Liberal Unionists, Gladstonians and Home Rulers. “What is the use,” she pertinently inquired, “of squabbling over matters which neither they nor I under- stand? This is simply a fight between the Duke and Mr. Gascoigne, and if they prefer Mr. Gascoigne to the Duke, all I can say is that they are too stupid to deserve the franchise at all.’’ It is to be hoped that a more statesmanlike view of the situation was taken by Hurstbourne’s eminent guests; although, from certain remarks which they allowed to fall, I gathered that Mr. Somers, with his indiscreet utterances as to the established Church, the hereditary branch of the Legislature and the principle of one man one vote, did not command their entire sympathy. Before the election day they all left us. They had done everything that they could do, they had talked themselves hoarse, their presence could render no further service to the cause, and some of them had engagements elsewhere, while others proposed to seek a little well-earned rest in their own homes. So they departed, after assuring their entertainer of their hearty good wishes and receiving in return the thanks which were their due. As soon as the last of them had driven away Hurst- bourne, with a beaming countenance, came skipping into the room which had been appropriated by Lady Charles as her boudoir. “Hooray!” he shouted; “now let’s all of us stand on our heads!” He suited the action to the word and made me do ~ Eomichoo “S (E(0) m