LADY FROST (nippingly).--"You mean Guy Darrell, the lawyer."

LADY SELINA.--"Lawyer--true; now I think of it, he was a lawyer. But his
chief fame was in the House of Commons. All parties agreed that he might
have commanded any station; but he was too rich perhaps to care
sufficiently about office. At all events, Parliament was dissolved when
he was at the height of his reputation, and he refused to be re-elected."

One SIR GREGORY STOLLHEAD (a member of the House of Commons, young,
wealthy, a constant attendant, of great promise, with speeches that were
filled with facts, and emptied the benches).--"I have heard of him.
Before my time; lawyers not much weight in the House now."

LADY SELINA.--"I am told that Mr. Darrell did not speak like a lawyer.
But his career is over; lives in the country, and sees nobody; a thousand
pities; a connection of mine, too; great loss to the country. Ask your
young friend, Mr. Vance, if Mr. Darrell is not his relation. I hope so,
for his sake. Now that our party is in power, Mr. Darrell could command
anything for others, though he has ceased to act with us. Our party is
not forgetful of talent."

LADY FROST (with icy crispness).--"I should think not: it has so little
of that kind to remember."

SIR GREGORY.--"Talent is not wanted in the House of Commons now; don't go
down, in fact. Business assembly."

LADY SELINA (suppressing a yawn).--"Beautiful day! We had better think
of going back to Richmond."