Etext prepared by Andrew Templeton Juliet Sutherland Josephine PaolucciTonya Allen and Project Gutenberg Distributed ProofreadersTHE CORYSTON FAMILYA NOVELBYMRS HUMPHRY WARDILLUSTRATED BY ELIZABETH SHIPPEN GREEN1913TOGMT AND JPTILLUSTRATIONSHOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CONCOCTING THIS MOTHER _Frontispiece_THE CONVERSATION DROPPED JUST AS THE VOICE OF THE ORATOR ROSE TO HISPERORATIONAS SHE SAW MARCIA HER FACE LIT UPTHIS MORNING HE FOUND HER ALL GIRLISH GENTLENESS AND APPEALI DO WISH I COULD HELP YOUMARCIA WAS SINGING IN A LOW VOICE AS SHE CAMEHE SAT STILL STUDYING HIS MOTHERS STRONG LINED FACENOW SUDDENLYHERE WAS A FRIENDON WHOM TO LEANBook ILADY CORYSTONGreek turannon einai moria kai tontheleinCHAPTER IThe hands of the clock on the front of the Strangers Gallery were nearingsix The longexpected introductory speech of the Minister in charge of thenew Land Bill was over and the leader of the Opposition was on his feetThe House of Commons was full and excited The side galleries were no lesscrowded than the benches below and round the entrancedoor stood a compactthrong of members for whom no seats were available With every sentencealmost the speaker addressing the House struck from it assent or protestcheers and countercheers ran through its ranks while below the gangwaya few passionate figures on either side the freebooters of the two greatparties watched one another angrily sitting on the very edge of theirseats like arrows drawn to the stringWithin that privileged section of the Ladies Gallery to which only theSpeakers order admits there was no less agitation than on the floorbelow though the signs of it were less evident Some half a dozen chairsplaced close against the grille were filled by dusky forms invisible saveas a dim patchwork to the House beneath themwomen with their facespressed against the latticework which divided them from the Chamberendeavoring to hear and see in spite of all the difficulties placed intheir way by a graceless Commons Behind them stood other women bendingforward sometimes over the heads of those in front in the feverish effortto catch the words of the speech It was so dark in the little room thatno inmate of it could be sure of the identity of any other unless she wasclose beside her and it was pervaded by a constant soft _froufrou_of silk and satin as persons from an inner room moved in and out or somelady silently gave up her seat to a newcomer or one of those in frontbent over to whisper to a friend behind The background of all seemedfilled with a shadowy medley of plumed hats from which sometimes a faceemerged as a shaft of faint light from the illumined ceiling of the Housestruck upon itThe atmosphere was very hot and heavy with the scent of violets whichseemed to come from a large bunch worn by a slim standing girl In frontof the girl sat a lady who was evidently absorbed in the scene below Sherarely moved except occasionally to put up an eyeglass the better toenable her to identify some face on the Parliamentary benches or theauthor of some interruption to the speaker Meanwhile the girl held herhands upon the back of the ladys chair and once or twice stooped to speakto herNext to this pair but in a corner of the gallery and occupying whatseemed to be a privileged and habitual seat was a woman of uncouth figureand strange headgear Since the Opposition leader had risen her attentionhad wholly wandered She yawned perpetually and talked a great deal to alady behind her Once or twice her neighbor threw her an angry glance Butit was too dark for her to see it though if she had seen it she would havepaid no attentionLady Coryston said a subdued voice The lady sitting in front of thegirl turned and saw an attendant beckoningThe girl moved toward him and returnedWhat is it MarciaA note from Arthur mammaA slip of paper was handed to Lady Coryston who read it in the gloom withdifficulty Then she whispered to her daughterHe hopes to get his chance about seven if not then after dinnerI really dont think I can stay so long said the girl plaintivelyIts dreadfully tiringGo when you like said her mother indifferently Send the car back formeShe resumed her intent listening just as a smart sally from the speakerbelow sent a tumultuous wave of cheers and countercheers through hisaudienceHe can be such a buffoon cant he said the stout lady in the corner toher companion as she yawned again She had scarcely tried to lowerher voice Her remark was at any rate quite audible to her nextdoorneighbor who again threw her a swift stabbing look of no more availhowever than its predecessorsWho is that lady in the cornerdo you mind telling meThe query was timidly whispered in the ear of Marcia Coryston by a veiledlady who on the departure of some other persons had come to stand besideherShe is Mrs Prideaux said Miss Coryston stifflyThe wife of the Prime Minister The voice showed emotionMarcia Coryston looked down upon the speaker with an air that said Acountry cousin I supposeBut she whispered civilly enough Yes She always sits in that cornerWerent you here when he was speakingNoIve not long come inThe conversation dropped just as the voice of the orator standing on theleft of the Speaker rose to his perorationIt was a peroration of considerable eloquence subtly graduated through arising series of rhetorical questions till it finally culminated and brokein the ringing sentencesDestroy the ordered hierarchy of English land and you will sweep away agrowth of centuries which would not be where it is if it did not in themain answer to the needs and reflect the character of Englishmen Reformand develop it if you will bring in modern knowledge to work upon itchange expand without breaking it appeal to the sense of propertywhile enormously diffusing property help the peasant without slaying thelandlord in other words put aside rash meddlesome revolution and setyourselves to build on the ancient foundations of our country what mayyet serve the new time Then you will have an _English_ a nationalpolicy It