'Does one ever recover all one lets slip—especially in politics?'
'Goodness—you are a pessimist! Why should one not recover it?'
Her charming mouth curved still more gaily.
'I have often heard my uncle say that the man who "resigns" is lost.'
'Ah!—never regret—never resign—never apologise? We know that creed. Your uncle must be a man of trenchant opinions. Do you agree with him?'
She tried to be serious.
'I suppose one should count the cost before—'
'Before one joins a ministry? Yes, that's a fair stroke. I wish to heaven
I had never joined it. But when I began to think that this particular
Ministry was taking English society to perdition, it was as well—wasn't
it?—that I should leave it?'
Her face suddenly calmed itself to a sweet gravity.
'Oh yes—yes!—if it was as bad as that.'