The Man in Possession — page 170: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 165 I have no prejudices about one form of government more than another. I only say the best rulers are those who consider the public welfare, and forget individual ambitions—for whom the words ‘place’ and ‘party’ have no meaning in comparison with honesty of purpose and a desire to fulfil the duties they have undertaken.” One or two _of the great ladies exchanged glances. They had vivid recollections of pressing private inter- ests and necessities upon their lords, and of schemes as regarded younger sons, or various male relatives who wanted a ‘‘good thing” when they had a chance of getting it. It was a great thing to be a Primrose Dame. It was a greater to be the proud dispenser of offices or sinecures with good salaries attached, and here was this ridiculous creature talking of ‘‘honesty of purpose,” and the comparative unim- portance of ‘‘ place and party ” when compared with the dirt and greed, and grasping avarice, and ever- _lasting discontent of that Hydra-headed monster called ‘‘ The People.” _ Of course the monster, had to be humoured at times, to be stroked and petted and given sugar- plums from dainty fingers, but the idea—the sub- limely ridiculous and childlike idea of ‘‘ considering ” it for a moment, or making any individual sacrifice . for it! Why, the girl must be mad. There was a general rustle and flutter of skirts—the sign of adjournment to dressing-rooms. Lady West- moreland tapped Kate lightly on the arm, and as she passed her, ‘‘ My dear,” she said, ‘‘ you are young and a little headstrong and one-sided, as all youth is, COMICOOolkXxS.conn