Chapter XXVI

WHENLordRoseberrymakesaspeech,eventhejournalsofhisownpartyreporthiminthefirstpersonandatfulllengthandthisissaidtobethepolitician’ssupremeambition.Havingreachedsuchdistinction,thereisnothinglefthimbutanhonourabledeathandapublicfuneralinWestminsterAbbey.Now,theBlackstableTimesaccordedthishonourtoEdward’sfirsteffortitwasprintedwithnumberlessI’spepperedboldlyoveritthegrammarwascorrected,andthestopsinserted,justasforthemostimportantorators.Edwardboughtadozencopiesandreadthespeechrightthroughineach,toseethathissentimentswerecorrectlyexpressed,andthattherewerenomisprints.HegaveittoBertha,andstoodoverherwhilesheread. “Lookswell,don’tit?”hesaid. “Splendid!” “Bytheway,isAuntPolly’saddress72EliotMansions?” “Yes.Why?” Herjawfellasshesawhimrolluphalf-a-dozencopiesoftheBlackstableTimesandaddressthewrapper. “I’msureshe’dliketoreadmyspeech.AnditmighthurtherfeelingsifsheheardaboutitandI’dnotsentherthereport.” “Oh,I’msureshe’dliketoseeitverymuch.Butifyousendsixcopiesyou’llhavenoneleft—forotherpeople.” “Oh,Icaneasilygetmore.TheeditorchaptoldmeIcouldhaveathousandifIliked.I’msendinghersix,becauseIdaresayshe’dliketoforwardsometoherfriends.” ByreturnofpostcameMissLey’sreply. MydearEdward,—IperusedallsixcopiesofyourspeechwiththegreatestinterestandIthinkyouwillag