“Yes—oppose their own bill. It is almost incredible; but so it is. Some changes have been forced upon us; little things which they had forgotten—quite minor matters; and they now say that they will be obliged to divide against us on these twopenny-halfpenny, hair-splitting points. It is Lord Brock’s own doing too, after all that he said about abstaining from factious opposition to the government.”
“I believe there is nothing too bad or too false for that man,” said Mrs. Grantly.
“After all they said, too, when they were in power themselves, as to the present government opposing the cause of religion! They declare now that Lord De Terrier cannot be very anxious about it, as he had so many good reasons against it a few weeks ago. Is it not dreadful that there should be such double-dealing in men in such positions?”
“It is sickening,” said Mrs. Grantly.
And then there was a pause between them as each thought of the injury that was done to them.
“But, archdeacon—”
“Well?”
“Could you not give up those small points and shame them into compliance?”
“Nothing would shame them.”
“But would it not be well to try?”