"
"He didn't give himself airs?"
"What!--Planty Pall! If I know anything of a man he's not the man to
do that because he's a duke. He can hold his own against all comers,
and always could. Quiet as he always seemed, he knew who he was, and
who other people were. I don't think you'll find much difference in
him when he has got over the annoyance." Mr. Ratler, however, was of
a different opinion. Mr. Ratler had known many docile members of the
House of Commons who had become peers by the death of uncles and
fathers, and who had lost all respect for him as soon as they were
released from the crack of the whip. Mr. Ratler rather despised peers
who had been members of the House of Commons, and who passed by
inheritance from a scene of unparalleled use and influence to one of
idle and luxurious dignity.
Soon after their arrival in London the Duchess wrote the following
very characteristic letter:--
DEAR LORD CHILTERN,
Mr. Palliser-- [Then having begun with a mistake, she
scratched the word through with her pen.
Pages:
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508