"I don't at all object to Miss Morris's views about the Sawab," said the
Under-Secretary, generously. "There is a great deal to be said on both
sides. I know of old that Miss Morris is a great friend of the Sawab."

"You used to be his friend, too," said Lucy.

"I felt for him, and do feel for him. All that is very well. I ask no one
to agree with me on the question itself. I only say that Mr. Greystock's
mode of treating it was unbecoming."

"I think it was the very best speech I ever read in my life," said Lucy,
with headlong energy and heightened colour.

"Then, Miss Morris, you and I have very different opinions about
speeches," said Lord Fawn, with severity. "You have, probably, never read
Burke's speeches."

"And I don't want to read them," said Lucy.

"That is another question," said Lord Fawn; and his tone and manner were
very severe indeed.

"We are talking about speeches in Parliament," said Lucy. Poor Lucy! She
knew quite as well as did Lord Fawn that Burke had been a House of Commons
orator; but in her impatience, and from absence of the habit of argument,
she omitted to explain that she was talking about the speeches of the day.

Lord Fawn held up his hands, and put his head a little on one side. "My
dear Lucy," said Lady Fawn, "you are showing your ignorance. Where do you
suppose that Mr. Burke's speeches were made?"