Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-12-04

London at all:
''Oh. but one must" Mrs. Leslie re-
turned "One wouldn't be justified in
locking ones children up, even if it We're
possible to do so. Besides, Dorothy has
principles which ought to be sufficient
protection to her"
Exactly sO That Is why hope that
she will get no harm from my cousin"
Mrs. Leslie, who had heard all about
the engagement which had recently
come to an end, thought this very mag
nanimous, and so, perhaps. it was; be-
cause if Percy Thorold had said what he
really thought of his cousin he would
have had to say that he considered her
heartless, selfish, deceitful and vain.
Not wishing 10 commit himself to SO
candid an expression of opinion, he
shifted the subject a little and led Mrs.
Leslie on to tell him more about her
daughter. This is subject upon which
the generality of mothers are willing
enough to converse, SO that before the
evening was over Percy had learned a
good deal which increased his original
interest III the dcbutante. Having, as he
believed, had his day, and being now a
mere Spectator of life i'll a social sense,
he naturally felt interested in those who
were about to take their turn at the
game.
Ii IS a pity that Mrs Leslie knew so
little about the stress of modern political
life; otherwise she would doubtless have
been more hattered than she was by the
request Of this overworked legislator
that he might be permitted to call upon
her. On the following Wednesday af-
teruoon he made his appearance at the
little house in Ebury street which she
had taken for the season, and not only
found 4Irs. and Miss Leslie at home,
but landed in the middle of tea party,
which was perhaps rather more than he
haJ barCainesl for. However, there were
not a great many people present. and the
tes. table, over which Miss Leslie was
presiding, was in the back drawing
room, 50 that if he wished to talk to
that young lady rather than to her
mother he had no reason to grumble at
his luck.
And does London season come up
to yotlr expectations" was the first thing
that he asked her. putting his question
with an anliable, grandfatherly air. Il
suppose Won have been racketing about
to Il tremendous extent
Not To what you would call tre-
mendOus extent she answered eve
have been to very few balls. and those
We're rather disappointing, except as a
Spectacle. | have enjoyed the theatres
and concerts, though, and | hope to en-
JOY Il good many more before We return
to onr native obscurity."
''Ah, l wish had time to go to con-
certs:" sighed Percy. Music is about
my only real pleasure now"
The girl glanced at him with a slight
suspicion Of irony in her smile, but, bear
ing III mind how lately he had been
crossed III love, she felt that he was en-.
titled to be little lackadaisical and
only said:
What about politics?"
well, they don't come under the head
of pleasures, at all events. | gave you
my views of political life the last time
that | had the honor of meeting you. if
you remember"
Yes, and l remember that made SO
bold as to tell You that l didn't believe
IN their sincerity. 1t is generally easy
enough to tell whether people mean what
they are saying or not
rs it. indeed? If | found it so polit.
ical life would be very much simplified
III my case. | should like to take You to
the house of commons some time when
one of half a dozen members whom |
could name is on his legs Then if you
could tell Inc whether he meant what he
was saying or not you would do me a
truly invaluable service"
''Oh, if they We're clever and dishonest
men dare say they would puzzle me.
But you are not-I mean you are not
dishonest
Mr.. Thorold bowed gravely.
Il want so much to hear a debate, u
the girl went on presently. rs that a
very difficult thing to manager
Not SO difficult but that l dare say
could manage it for you by making an
effort. Whom do you particularly wish
to hear"
Would you be Mortified if 1 said that
would rather hear Mr. Gladstone than
anybody else:'
Not in the least. also would rather
listen to him than to anybody else. That
doesn't compel me to agree with him."
And next to Mr.. Gladstone l should
like to hear you."
THANK you. l don't shrink from the
comparison, because none will be drawn
Nobody has ever drealnt of calling me q
brilliant speaker; all that can be said fol
me is that ! am accurate and COO
headed
but those are two very important
things, are they not?'
They tell more or less in the house;
they aren't of much Use upon the plat
form. Well, you shall have an oppor
tunity of hearing Us both, and then you
will be able to judge to some extent
which style Of oratory is likely to be the
most serviceable under system of party
government. fsuppose Mrs. Leslie will
accompany you!'
Yes, please; though I'm afraid SHE
won't enjoy it. l asked Lady Belvoir t.
take me, bat she said she would as soor
listen to two hours Sermon
Your mother observed Percy, "has
been asking me whether consider Lady
Beivoir desirable sort of friend fol
YOU
And what did you say:'
Il didn't say much; perhaps L am moi
a very good judge. l should be sorry il
you were to adopt Lady Belvoir's stand
ard of conduct; only am quite sure thai
you won't
Are you quite sure that you know
what her standard of conduct is:'
.'Oli. dear. no: dJn't even know that
she has one. Howe -er. l know how sh,
conducts herself"
So, for thelnatter IF that, did Dorothy
Leslie: hut she was a loyal friend, and
she would doubtless have found some
thing plausible to urge on Lady Belvoir'
uenQI n9d Sne not been interrupted b,
the entrance of fresh visitors. Thes
were all of them young men, and, afte
.he manner of their kind, they mad
short work of the mistress of the house
with whom they shook hands and whom
they promptly deserted in favor of he
daughter.
Thus Percy Thorold found himsel
relegated TO the background-a position
which has its theoretical advantages ant
its practical drawbacks. He left tn,
house almost Immediately. and as h
walked away he was conscious of a Ger
tain feeling of irritation against thost