G. Is anyone leaving the Cabinet?
MORLEY. We may all be leaving it, very soon. He asked me to tell you; he
had promised Armitstead a game. Look how he is enjoying it!
MRS. G. (_shrewdly_). Ah! then I expect he is winning.
MORLEY. Oh? I should not have called him a bad loser.
MRS. G. No; but he likes winning better--the excitement of it.
MORLEY. That is only human. Yes, he has been a great winner--sometimes.
MRS. G. When has he ever lost--except just for the time? He always knows
that.
MORLEY. Ah, yes! To quote your own sprightly phrase, we--he and the party
with him--are always "popping up again."
MRS. G. When did I say that?
MORLEY. Seven years ago, when we began to win bye-elections on the Irish
question. The bye-elections are not going so well for us just now.
MRS. G. But the General Election will.
MORLEY. Perhaps one will--in another seven years or so.
MRS. G. But isn't there to be one this year?
MORLEY (_gravely_). The Cabinet has decided against it.
MRS. G. But Mr. Morley! Now the Lords have thrown out the Irish Bill there
must be an election.
MORLEY. That was Mr. Gladstone's view.
MRS. G. Wasn't it yours, too?
MORLEY. Yes; but we couldn't--we couldn't carry the others.
MRS. G. Then you mean Mr. Gladstone is going to form a new Cabinet?
MORLEY. No. A new Cabinet is going to be formed, but he will not be in it.
That is his resolution. I was to tell you.
(_At this news of the downfall of her hopes the gentle face becomes
piteously woeful; full of wonder also_.
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