“I believe we could do—extensive things,” I insisted.
“Revivals and revisions of Toryism have been tried so often,” said Thorns, “from the Young England movement onward.”
“Not one but has produced its enduring effects,” I said. “It's the peculiarity of English conservatism that it's persistently progressive and rejuvenescent.”
I think it must have been about that point that Dayton fled our presence, after some clumsy sentence that I decided upon reflection was intended to remind me of my duty to my party.
Then I remember Thorns firing doubts at me obliquely across the table. “You can't run a country through its spoilt children,” he said. “What you call aristocrats are really spoilt children. They've had too much of everything, except bracing experience.”
“Children can always be educated,” said Crupp.
“I said SPOILT children,” said Thorns.
“Look here, Thorns!” said I. “If this Budget row leads to a storm, and these big people get their power clipped, what's going to happen? Have you thought of that? When they go out lock, stock, and barrel, who comes in?”
“Nature abhors a Vacuum,” said Crupp, supporting me.
“Bailey's trained officials,” suggested Gane.