ny docile members of the
House of Commons who had become peers by the death of uncles and
fathers, and who had lost all respect for him as soon as they were
released from the crack of the whip. Mr. Ratler rather despised peers
who had been members of the House of Commons, and who passed by
inheritance from a scene of unparalleled use and influence to one of
idle and luxurious dignity.

Soon after their arrival in London the Duchess wrote the following
very characteristic letter:--

DEAR LORD CHILTERN,

Mr. Palliser-- [Then having begun with a mistake, she
scratched the word through with her pen.] The Duke has
asked me to write about Trumpeton Wood, as he knows
nothing about it, and I know just as little. But if you
say what you want, it shall be done. Shall we get foxes
and put them there? Or ought there to be a special
fox-keeper? You mustn't be angry because the poor old Duke
was too feeble to take notice of the matter. Only speak,
and it shall be done.

Yours faithfully,

GLENCORA O.

Madame Goesler spoke to me about it; but at that time we
were in trouble.

The answer was as characteristic:--

DEAR DUCHESS OF OMNIUM,

Thanks. What is wanted, is that keepers should know that
there are to be foxes. When keepers know that foxes are
really expected, there always are foxes. The men latterly
have known just the contrary. It is all a question of
shooting. I don't mean to say a word against the late
Duke. When he got old the thing became bad. No doubt it
will be right now.

Faithfully yours,

CHILTERN.

Our hounds have been poisoned in Trumpeton Wood. This
would never have been done had not the keepers been
against the hunting.

Upon receipt of this she sent the letter to Mr. Fothergill, with a
request that there might be no more shooting in Trumpeton Wood. "I'll
be shot if we'll stand that, you know," said Mr. Fothergill to one of
his underlings. "There are two hundred and fifty acres in Trumpeton
Wood, and we're never to kill another pheasant because Lord Chiltern
is Master of the Brake Hounds. Property won't be worth having at that
rate."

The Duke by no means intended to abandon the world of politics, or
even the narrower sphere of ministerial work, because he had been
ousted from the House of Commons, and from the possibility of filling
the office which he had best liked. This was proved to the world by
the