When will you have your
next meeting? They will be all handy then."
"You can find that out without my help. It's to-morrow."
"Ah! I suppose you've had a stormy discussion. I hope your moderate
counsels prevailed."
Mr. Secretary winked and gave his head a twist on one side, as if he
meant thereby to say: "You don't catch me."
"It's a pity," continued Mr. Hardy, taking no notice, "that some men
are always for rushing into extremities. Why don't they try and
redress their grievances, if they have any, in the legitimate way
which you yourself propose--by petition?"
It so happened that a couple of hours before, Mr. Secretary having
been somewhat noisy and insubordinate, the Major had been obliged to
rule him out of order and request his silence. The insult--for so he
considered it--was rankling in him.
"Because," he replied, "we have amongst us two or three d---d
conceited, stuck-up fools, who think they are going to ride over us.
By God, they are mistaken though! They are the chaps who do all the
mischief. Not that I'd say anything against them--no,
notwithstanding I stand up against them."
"Do all the mischief--yes, you've just hit it.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119