“Influenza or no influenza, I shouldn’t have sat down under the things that girl was saying about you.”
“What would you have done?”
“I should have put her in her place pretty quick. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
As a matter of fact Thormanby had taken very good care not to be there. He had washed his hands and put the whole responsibility on the shoulders of Miss Battersby and Miss Pettigrew. I felt it my duty to bring this home to his conscience.
“Why didn’t you come?” I asked. “We’d have been very pleased to see you.”
“Peers,” he replied, “are not allowed to interfere in elections.”
This, of course, was a mere subterfuge. I was not inclined to let Thormanby escape.
“You’ll have every opportunity,” I said, “of putting her in her place without running your head against the British constitution. She means to take an active part in electing the new bishop.”
“Nonsense. There’s no part for her to take. That’s a matter for the synod of the diocese and she won’t be allowed into its meetings.”
“All the same she’ll manage to get in. But of course that won’t matter. You’ll put her in her place pretty quick.”