There was no anger in his bosom as he thought of this.It would be hardly just to say that there was jealousy.His nature was essentially free from jealousy.But there was shame,--and self-accusation at having accepted so great an office with so little fixed purpose as to great work.It might be his duty to subordinate even his pride to the service of his country, and to consent to be a faineant minister, a gilded Treasure log, because by remaining in that position he would enable the Government to be carried on.But how base the position, how mean, how repugnant to that grand idea of public work which had hitherto been the motive power of all his life! How would he continue to live if this thing were to go on from year to year,--he pretending to govern while others governed,--taking the highest place at all tables, receiving mock reverence, and known to all men as faineant First Lord of the Treasury? Now, as he had been thinking of all this, the most trusted of his friends had come to him, and had at once alluded to the very circumstances which had been pressing so heavily on his mind.'I was delighted,'
continued the elder Duke, 'when I heard that you had determined to go to Gatherum this year.'
'If a man has a big house I suppose he ought to live in it, sometimes.'
'Certainly.It was for such purposes as this now intended that your uncle built it.He never became a public man, and therefore, though he went there, every year I believe, he never really used it.'
'He hated it,--in his heart.And so do I.And so does Glencora.I don't see why any man should have his private life interrupted by being made to keep a huge caravansary open for persons he doesn't care a straw about.'
'You would not like to live alone.'
'Alone,--with my wife and children,--I would certainly, during a portion of the year at least.'
'I doubt whether such a life, even for a month, even for a week, is compatible with your duties.You would hardly find it possible.Could you do without your private secretaries? Would you know enough of what is going on, if you did not discuss matters with others? A man cannot be both private and public at the same time.'
'And therefore one has to be chopped up, like a reed out of the river, as the poet said, and yet not give sweet music afterwards.' The Duke of St Bungay said nothing in answer to this, as he did not understand the chopping of the reed.'I'm afraid I've been wrong about this collection of people down at Gatherum,' continued the younger Duke.'Glencora is impulsive, and has overdone the thing.Just look at that.' And he handed a letter to his friend.The old Duke put on his spectacles and read the letter through,--which ran as follows.
Private MY LORD DUKE, I do not doubt but that your Grace is aware of my position in regard to the public press of the country, and I beg to assure your Grace that my present proposition is made, not on account of the great honour and pleasure which would be conferred upon myself should your Grace accede to it, but because I feel assured that I might so be best enabled to discharge an important duty for the benefit of the public generally.
Your Grace is about to receive the whole fashionable world of England and many distinguished foreign ambassadors at your ancestral halls, not solely for social delight,--for a man in your Grace's high position is not able to think only of a pleasant life,--in order that the prestige of your combined Ministry may be so best maintained.That your Grace is thereby doing a duty to your country no man who understands the country can doubt.But it must be the case that the country at large should interest itself in your festivities, and should demand to have accounts of the gala doings of your ducal palace.Your Grace will probably agree with me that these records could be better given by one empowered by yourself to give them, by one who had less present, and who would write in your Grace's interest, than by some interloper who would receive his tale only at second hand.
It is my purport now to inform your Grace that should Ibe honoured by an invitation to your Grace's party at Gatherum, I should obey such a call with the greatest alacrity, and would devote my pen and the public organ which is at my disposal to your Grace's service with the readiest good-will.
I have the honour to be, My Lord Duke, Your Grace's obedient and very humble servant QUINTUS SLIDEThe old Duke, when he had read the letter, laughed heartily.
'Isn't that a terribly bad sign of the times?' said the younger.
'Well;--hardly that, I think.The man is both a fool and a blackguard; but I don't think we are therefore to suppose that there are many fools and blackguards like him.I wonder what he really has wanted.'
'He has wanted me to ask him to Gatherum.'
'He can hardly have expected that.I don't think he can have been such a fool.He may have thought that there was a possible off chance, and that he would not lose even that for want of asking.Of course you won't have noticed it.'
'I have asked Warburton to write to him, saying that he cannot be received at my house.I have all letters answered unless they seem to have come from insane persons.Would it not shock you if your private arrangements were invaded in that way?'
'He can't invade you.'
'Yes he can.He does.That is an invasion.And whether he is there or not, he can and will write about my house.And though no one else will make himself such a fool as he has done by this letter, nevertheless even that is a sign of what others are doing.You yourself were saying just now that we were going to do something,--something particular, you said.'
'It was your word, and I echoed it.I suppose you are going to have a great many people?'
'I am afraid Glencora has overdone it.I don't know why I should trouble you by saying so, but it makes me uneasy.'
'I can't see why.'
'I fear she has got some idea into her head of astounding the world by display.'
'I think she has got an idea of conquering the world by graciousness and hospitality.'