Up to the morning of this awful day
he had been hanging on the Cabinet news from hour to hour. The most
important posts would, of course be filled first. Afterward would come
the minor appointments--and then!
* * * * *
Marsham found the Premier much shaken. He was an old man; he had been a
warm personal friend of Ferrier's; and the blow had hit him hard.
Evidently for a few hours he had been determined to resign; but strong
influences had been brought to bear, and he had wearily resumed
his task.
Reluctantly, Marsham told the story. Poor Lord Broadstone could not
escape from the connection between the arrival of his letter and the
seizure which had killed his old comrade. He sat bowed beneath it for a
while; then, with a fortitude and a self-control which never fails men
of his type in times of public stress and difficulty, he roused himself
to discuss the political situation which had arisen--so far, at least,
as was necessary and fitting in the case of a man not in the
inner circle.
As the two men sat talking the messenger arrived from Beechcote with Sir
James Chide's letter. From the Premier's expression as he laid it down
Marsham divined that it contained Chide's refusal to join the
Government.
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