MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS I know, dear. Isn't it shocking?

ST. HERBERT Deplorable; but of course not your fault. I mention
it because of its importance to the present matter. Under Clause A
of the Act for the Better Regulation, &c., &c., all persons
"mentally deficient" are debarred from becoming members of
Parliament. The classification has been held to include idiots,
infants, and women.

[An interruption. LADY MOGTON hammers.]

Bearing this carefully in mind, we proceed. [He refers to his
notes.] Two years ago a bye-election took place for the South-west
division of Belfast.

MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS My dear, may I? It has just occurred to
me. Why do we never go to Ireland?

LADY MOGTON For various sufficient reasons.

MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS So many of the Irish members have
expressed themselves quite sympathetically.

LADY MOGTON We wish them to continue to do so. [Turns to ST.
HERBERT.] I'm sorry.

ST. HERBERT A leader of the Orange Party was opposed by a
Nationalist, and the proceedings promised to be lively. They
promised for a while to be still livelier, owing to the nomination