heresy to say that in this house, Lady Markby.
Robert is a great champion of the Higher Education of Women, and so, I am
afraid, am I.

MRS. CHEVELEY. The higher education of men is what I should like to see.
Men need it so sadly.

LADY MARKBY. They do, dear. But I am afraid such a scheme would be
quite unpractical. I don't think man has much capacity for development.
He has got as far as he can, and that is not far, is it? With regard to
women, well, dear Gertrude, you belong to the younger generation, and I
am sure it is all right if you approve of it. In my time, of course, we
were taught not to understand anything. That was the old system, and
wonderfully interesting it was. I assure you that the amount of things I
and my poor dear sister were taught not to understand was quite
extraordinary. But modern women understand everything, I am told.

MRS. CHEVELEY. Except their husbands. That is the one thing the modern
woman never understands.

LADY MARKBY. And a very good thing too, dear, I dare say. It might
break up many a happy home if they did. Not yours, I need hardly say,
Gertrude. You have married a pattern husband. I wish I could say as
much for myself. But since Sir John has taken to attending the debates
regularly, which he never used to do in the good old days, his language
has become quite impossible. He always seems to think that he is
addressing the House, and consequently whenever he discusses the state of
the agricultural labourer, or the Welsh Church, or something quite
improper of that kind, I am obliged to send all the servants out of the
room. It is not pleasant to see one's own butler, who has been with one
for twenty-three years, actually blushing at the side-board, and the
footmen making contortions in corners like persons in circuses. I assure
you my life will be quite ruined unless they send John at once to the
Upper House. He won't take any interest in politics then, will he? The
House of Lords is so sensible. An assembly of gentlemen. But in his
present state, Sir John is really a great trial. Why, this morning
before breakfast was half over, he stood up on the hearthrug, put his
hands in his pockets, and appealed to the country at the top of his
voice. I left the table as soon as I had my second cup of tea, I need
hardly say. But his violent language could be heard all over the house!
I trust, Gertrude, that Sir Robert is not like that?

LADY CHILTERN. But I a