"There is a
regular revolt coming on. A large number of men on our side say they
won't be led by him; that if we come in, he must go to the Lords."
Lady Lucy started.
"Oliver!" she said, indignantly, "you know it would break his heart!"
And before both minds there rose a vision of Ferrier's future, as he
himself certainly conceived it. A triumphant election--the Liberals in
office--himself, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and leader of the
Commons--with the reversion of the Premiership whenever old Lord
Broadstone should die or retire--this indeed had been Ferrier's working
understanding with his party for years; years of strenuous labor, and on
the whole of magnificent generalship. Deposition from the leadership of
the Commons, with whatever compensations, could only mean to him, and to
the world in general, the failure of his career.
"They would give him Foreign Affairs, of course," said Marsham, after a
pause.
"Nothing that they could give him would make up!" said Lady Lucy, with
energy. "You certainly, Oliver, could not lend yourself to any intrigue
of the kind."
Marsham shrugged his shoulders.
"My position is not exactly agreeable! I don't agree with Ferrier, and I
do agree with the malcontents.
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