THE GOLDEN AGE
learnedly and well, and it all sounded promising enough, till he went on to explain that, for the present at least, he proposed to be the House of Lords himself. We others were to be the Commons. There would be promotions, of course, he added, dependent on service and on fitness, and open to both sexes; and to me in especial he held out hopes of speedy advancement. But in its initial stages the thing wouldn't work properly unless he were first and only Lord. Then I put my foot down promptly, and said it was all rot, and I didn't see the good of any House of Lords at all. 'Then you must be a low Radical!' said Edward, with fine contempt. The inference seemed hardly necessary, but what could I do? I accepted the situation, and said firmly. Yes, I was a low Radical. In this monstrous character I had been obliged to masquerade ever since; but now I could throw it off, and look the world in the face again.
And yet, did this and other gains really outbalance my losses? Henceforth I should, it was true, be leader and chief; but I should
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