He could not allow it to
be said of him that he had voted for the permanence of the Church
establishment, and he must therefore support the Government. Then
Ratler whispered a few words to his neighbour: "I knew the way he'd
run when Gresham insisted on poor old Mildmay's taking him into the
Cabinet." "The whole thing has gone to the dogs," said Bonteen. On
the fourth night the House was divided, and Mr. Daubeny was the owner
of a majority of fifteen.
Very many of the Liberal party expressed an opinion that the battle
had been lost through the want of judgment evinced by Mr. Gresham.
There was certainly no longer that sturdy adherence to their chief
which is necessary for the solidarity of a party. Perhaps no leader
of the House was ever more devoutly worshipped by a small number of
adherents than was Mr. Gresham now; but such worship will not support
power. Within the three days following the division the Ratlers had
all put their heads together and had resolved that the Duke of St.
Bungay was now the only man who could keep the party together.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156