"And I am glad to have been told, even though that which you tell me is not pleasant hearing. When a man has been drinking too much brandy, it may be well that he should be put on a course of 12s. claret."
"He won't like it; and then,—it's kill or cure."
"I don't think you're gone so far, Cora, that we need fear that the remedy will be fatal."
"I am thinking of you rather than myself. I can make myself generally disagreeable, and get excitement in that way. But what will you do? It's all very well to talk of me and the children, but you can't bring in a Bill for reforming us. You can't make us go by decimals. You can't increase our consumption by lowering our taxation. I wish you had gone back to some Board." This she said looking up into his face with an anxiety which was half real and half burlesque.
"I had made up my mind to go back to no Board,—for the present. I was thinking that we could spend some months in Italy, Cora."
"What; for the summer;—so as to be in Rome in July! After that we could utilise the winter by visiting Norway."
"We might take Norway first."
"And be eaten up by mosquitoes! I've got to be too old to like travelling."
"What do you like, dear?"
"Nothing;—except being the Prime Minister's wife; and upon my word there were times when I didn't like that very much. I don't know anything else that I'm fit for. I wonder whether Mr. Gresham would let me go to him as housekeeper? Only we should have to lend him Gatherum, or there would be no room for the display of my abilities. Is Mr. Monk in?"