“And George Rivers?” said Norman, smiling.
“Poor George! he is very proud of her in his own way. He has just been here with a note from Flora, and actually talked! Between her and the election, he is wonderfully brilliant.”
“The election? Has Mr. Esdaile resigned?”
“Have you not heard? He intends it, and George himself is going to stand. The only danger is that Sir Henry Walkinghame should think of it.”
“Rivers in Parliament! Well, sound men are wanted.”
“Fancy Flora, our member’s wife. How well she will become her position.”
“How soon is it likely to be?”
“Quickly, I fancy. Dr. Spencer, who knows all kinds of news (papa says he makes a scientific study of gossip, as a new branch of comparative anatomy), found out from the Clevelands that Mr. Esdaile meant to retire, and happened to mention it the last time that Flora came to see me. It was like firing a train. You would have wondered to see how it excited her, who usually shows her feelings so little. She has been so much occupied with it, and so anxious that George should be ready to take the field at once, that papa was afraid of its hurting her, and Ethel comes home declaring that the election is more to her than her baby.”
“Ethel is apt to be a little hard on Flora. They are too unlike to understand each other.”
“Ethel is to be godmother though, and Flora means to ask Mr. Ogilvie to come and stand.”