Glencora, by this time, was
almost in a passion, and showed that she was so.

"My dear Lady Glencora, you have mistaken me," said Mrs Marsham; "I
did not mean anything of that kind."

"I am so sorry," said Alice. "And it is such a pity, as I am quite
used to going about in cabs."

"Of course you are," said Lady Glencora. "Why shouldn't you? I'd
go home in a wheelbarrow if I couldn't walk, and had no other
conveyance. That's not the question. Mrs Marsham understands that."

"Upon my word, I don't understand anything," said that lady.

"I understand this," said Lady Glencora; "that in all such matters as
that, I intend to follow my own pleasure. Come, Alice, let us have
some coffee,"--and she rang the bell. "What a fuss we have made about
a stupid old carriage!"

The gentlemen did not return to the drawing-room that evening,
having, no doubt, joint work to do in arranging the great financial
calculations of the nation; and, at an early hour, Alice was taken
home in Lady Glencora's brougham, leaving her cousin still in the
hands of Mrs Marsham.

CHAPTER XLIV

The Election for the Chelsea Districts

March came, and still the Chancellor of the Exchequer held his
position. In the early days of March there was given in the House a
certain parliamentary explanation on the subject, which, however, did
not explain very much to any person. A statement was made which was
declared by the persons making it to be altogether satisfactory, but
nobody else seemed to find any satisfaction in it. The big wigs of
the Cabinet had made an arrangement which, from the language used
by them on this occasion, they must be supposed to have regarded as
hardly less permanent than the stars; but everybody else protested
that the Government was going to pieces; and Mr Bott was heard
to declare in clubs and lobbies, and wherever he could get a
semi-public, political hearing, that this kind of thing wouldn't do.
Lord Brock must either blow hot or cold. If he chose to lean upon Mr
Palliser, he might lean upon him, and Mr Palliser would not be found
wanting. In such case no opposition could touch Lord Brock or the
Government. That was Mr Bott's opinion. But if Lord Brock did not so
choose, why, in that case, he must expect that Mr Palliser, and Mr
Palliser's friends, would--. Mr Bott did not say what they would do;
but he was supposed by those who understood the matter to hint at an
Opposition lobby, and adverse divisions, and to thre