“O yes, papa! we heard you speak at Hertford, about reform in parliament.”
“You call that good public speaking, do you?” said Mr. Byerley, laughing: “you will find your notions a little exalted by what you will hear to-morrow. The meeting is to be at Freemasons’ Hall; and B——, and W——, and P——, will speak; and the subject is——”
“Not politics, I do hope,” said Anna.
“The subject is political, but it involves much besides politics, or I should not think of taking you there, my little hater of politics. It cannot be said of us, Anna, ‘like father like child:’ you will feel differently, when you grow older and wiser.”
“If she does not,” said Mary, laughing, “she and I shall lay all the blame on you. But I doubt whether we shall ever think, as you wish we should, that it is necessary or desirable for a woman to care about what seems to be no concern of hers.”
“I have not adopted the right method, I believe, to interest you in what interests me so much,” said Mr. Byerley: “I dare say you are quite tired of hearing of public meetings, and petitions, and of reform in parliament, at the very name of which I observe you sigh. I see you never look at a newspaper, except to discover notices of new music or books; but this is all because you do not know the importance of the subjects you despise.”
“But,” said Anna, “I thought every body disliked female politicians. I remember your looking very much disgusted when you heard how the Blakeleys bestirred themselves in Mr. Harmer’s election; how Mrs. Blakeley helped to canvass for him; and how her daughters dropped a laurel crown by a red ribbon on his head, when he was chaired. They stood on a scaffolding, you know, where every body in the marketplace could see them; and I remember your saying, that if your daughters had done it, you should have wished the scaffolding to fall in with them before the member’s chair came round.”
“True, Anna, I remember saying so; and my feeling is much the same now, though I would not express it so extravagantly. I know few things more disgusting, than to see women pushing forwards in matters where they have no business, and inflaming themselves with party spirit. But all this has nothing to do with such an interest in the welfare of your country and your race as I wish to awaken in you. I think, Mary, you liked the chapter of the ‘Wealth of Nations,’ which you read to me lately.”
“On Bounties, and Restraints on Importation; yes, I liked it particularly, and mean to read more, if I may.”
“Well, that very question of Free Trade is one of the most important that our politicians are busy about now.”