principles; he's--

_El_. Oh, papa, do stop!--here we are at the Victoria--and we have no
right to judge any one so harshly. I assure you such strong expressions
only make me feel more and more convinced how wrong you must be. [_To_
Plumper, _handing back his paper_.] Thank you so much. I'm so sorry I
have not had time to read it.

_Lady G_. Good-bye, Mr Gresham; remember that you have promised to dine
with us to-morrow night. We shall be quite alone; but I am sure you
don't care about a party.

_Ad_. I need not say with what pleasure I shall look forward to it. _Au
revoir_, Lady Elaine. [_Aside_.] You do not know how you have been
tempting me to abandon all my cherished political convictions for your
sake. It is to be hoped that the Radicals will not follow up their
success with the caucus by organising the young ladies of their party and
letting them loose on society as propagandists of their Utopian ideas and
political fallacies.

[_Exeunt omnes_.



SCENE II.--Lady Gules's Boudoir. Elaine and Adolphus.


_Ad_. Dear Lady Elaine, Lady Gules has given me special permission and
opportunity to explain myself more fully than was possible yesterday.
Please tell me why you were so surprised at what I said, and why you