WHAT THE DUCHESS THOUGHT OF HER HUSBAND.
When the session began it was understood in the political world that a very strong opposition was to be organized against the Government under the guidance of Sir Orlando Drought, and that the great sin to be imputed to the Cabinet was an utter indifference to the safety and honour of Great Britain, as manifested by their neglect of the navy.All the world knew that Sir Orlando had deserted the Coalition because he was not allowed to build new ships, and of course Sir Orlando would make the most of his grievance.With him was joined Mr Boffin, the patriotic Conservative who had never listened to the voice of the seducer, and the staunch remainder of the Tory party.And with them the more violent of the Radicals were prepared to act, not desirous, indeed, that new ships should be built, or that a Conservative Government should be established,--or, indeed, that anything should be done,--but animated by intense disgust that so mild a politician as the Duke of Omnium should be Prime Minister.The fight began at once, Sir Orlando objecting violently to certain passages in the Queen's Speech.It was all very well to say that the country was at present at peace with all the world; but how was peace to be maintained without a fleet? Then Sir Orlando paid a great many compliments to the Duke, and ended his speech by declaring him to be the most absolutely faineant minister that had disgraced the country since the Duke of Newcastle.Mr Monk defended the Coalition, and assured the House that the navy was not only the most powerful navy existing, but that it was the most powerful that ever had existed in the possession of this or any other country, and was probably in absolute efficiency superior to the combined navies of all the world.The House was not shocked by statements absolutely at variance with each other, coming from two gentlemen who had lately been members of the same Government, and who must be supposed to know what they are talking about, but seemed to think that upon the whole Sir Orlando had done his duty.For though there was complete confidence in the navy as a navy, and though a very small minority would have voted for any considerably increased expense, still it was well that there should be an opposition.And how can there be an opposition without a subject for grumbling,--some matter on which a minister can be attacked? No one really thought that the Prussians and French combined would invade our shores and devastate our fields, and plunder London, and carry our daughters away into captivity.The state of the funds showed very plainly that there was no such fear.But a good cry was a very good thing,--and it is always well to rub up the officials of the Admiralty by a little wholesome abuse.Sir Orlando was thought to have done his business well.Of course he did not risk a division upon the address.Had he done so he would have been 'nowhere'.But, as it was, he was proud of his achievement.
The ministers generally would have been indifferent to the very hard words that were said of them, knowing what they were worth, and feeling aware that a ministry which had everything too easy was very sore on the subject.The old Duke's work at this time consisted almost all together in nursing the younger Duke.It did sometimes occur to his elder Grace that it might be well to let his brother retire, and that a Prime Minister, malgre lui, could not be a successful Prime Minister, or a useful one.But if the Duke of Omnium went the Coalition must go too, and the Coalition had been the offspring of the old statesman.The country was thriving under the Coalition, and there was no real reason why it should not last for the next ten years.He continued, therefore, his system of coddling, and was ready at any moment, or at every moment, to pour, if not comfort, at any rate consolation into the ears of his unhappy friend.In the present emergency, it was the falsehood and general baseness of Sir Orlando which nearly broke the heart of the Prime Minister.
'How is one to live,' he said, 'if one has to do with men of that kind?'
'But you haven't to do with him any longer,' said the Duke of St Bungay.
'When I see a man who is supposed to have earned the name of statesman, and been high in the councils of his sovereign, induced by personal jealousy to do as he is doing, it makes me feel that an honest man should not place himself where he may have to deal with such persons.'
'According to that the honest men are to desert their country in order that the dishonest men may have everything their own way.'
Our Duke could not answer this, and therefore for the moment he yielded.But he was unhappy, saturnine, and generally silent except when closeted with his ancient mentor.And he knew that he was saturnine and silent, and that it behoved him as a leader of men to be genial and communicative,--listening to counsel even if he did not follow it, and at any rate appearing to have confidence in his colleagues.