"What is done to members who have opinions of their own and are troublesome to their leaders?" Mrs. Paul Seaton further inquired.
Mr. Kesterton's eyes twinkled. "The correct thing is for them to be hanged, drawn and quartered; but, if they happen to have charming wives, the sentence is generally commuted to transportation for life to the House of Lords."
"I see. Well, I am glad to hear that my husband behaves himself prettily, and that you approve of him."
"He certainly behaves himself prettily, my dear lady; and I always approve of and nearly always agree with him. The only difference between us is that he is still young enough to aim at perfection, whilst I have learnt to be satisfied with success."
"You see, my wife is anxious to learn the customs of the House," said Paul.
"Then, my dear Isabel, let me give you one piece of valuable information," chimed in Lord Bobby, "do not for a moment imagine that because our old friend Guy Fawkes was reprimanded for trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament, there is anything to prevent you from blowing up the members separately. This custom is not only lawful, but frequently expedient; and in certain cases—such as your own for instance—not only expedient, but absolutely necessary."
"You know nothing at all about it," replied Isabel with dignity.
"Pardon me; my father is a member of the Upper House, and—until my marriage—I resided principally at home."
Every one laughed, and Paul said: "You must not go about telling the secrets of the Upper House in that way, Thistletown."
Bobby shook his head reprovingly. "Don't crush all the spirit out of that poor little thing. She has a right to know that she may bully you if she wants to do so, and that nobody can stop her. You shouldn't take advantage of your dear wife's well-known meekness and submission, Seaton; you really shouldn't. If you had married a woman who could speak up for herself, it would have been different. But I cannot bear to see cruelty to dumb animals."