But, of course, it will come out."
With which final shaft she departed, leaving Lady Lucy a little uneasy.
She mentioned Elizabeth Niton's "foolish remark" to Mrs. Fotheringham in
the course of the evening. Isabel Fotheringham laughed it to scorn.
"You may be quite sure there will be plenty of ill-natured talk either
way, whether Oliver gives her up or doesn't. The real thing to bear in
mind is that if Oliver yields to your wishes, mamma--as you certainly
deserve that he should, after all you have done for him--he will be
delivered from an ignorant and reactionary wife who might have spoiled
his career. I like to call a spade a spade. Oliver belongs to his
_party_, and his party have a right to count upon him. He has no right
to jeopardize either his opinions or his money; _we_ have a claim
on both."
Lady Lucy gave an unconscious sigh. She was glad of any arguments, from
anybody, that offered her support. But it did occur to her that if Diana
Mallory had not shown a weakness for the soldiers of her country, and if
her heart had been right on Women's Suffrage, Isabel would have judged
her case differently; so that her approval was not worth all it might
have been.
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