"In the service of one's country," he said, "one should be prepared to make sacrifices. The champagne, Amy. Besides, one can always sleep in the morning."
Selina and Louise exchanged glances, and Selina, as the elder, gave the project her languid approval.
"It would be nice for us in a way," she remarked. "Of course you would have a house in London then, papa, and being an M.P. you would get cards for us to a lot of 'at homes' and things. Only I wish you were a Conservative."
"A Liberal is much more fashionable than he was," Brooks assured her, cheerfully.
"Fashionable! I know the son of a Marquis, a Lord himself, who's a
Liberal, and a good one," Mr. Bullsom remarked, with a wink to Brooks.
"Well, my dears," Mrs. Bullsom said, making an effort to rise, and failing at the first attempt, "shall we leave the gentlemen to talk about it over their wine?
"Oh, you sit down again, mother," Selina directed.
"That sort of thing's quite old-fashioned, isn't it, Mr. Brooks? We're going to stay with you. You can smoke. Ann, bring the cigars."
Mrs. Bullsom, who was looking forward to a nap in a quiet corner of the drawing-room, obeyed with resignation written large on her good-natured, somewhat flushed face. But Mr. Bullsom, who wanted to revert to the subject which still fascinated him, grunted.
"Hang these new ideas," he said. "It's you they're after, Mr. Brooks.
As a rule, they're off before I can get near my cigar-box."