ly, and referred soon after in
a speech to "my excellent, though slightly bellicose friend, child of an
honored race."

Disraeli did not take up politics to make money--the man who does that may
win in his desires, but his career is short. Nothing but honesty really
succeeds. Disraeli knew this, and in his record there is no taint. But the
income of a member of the House of Commons affords no opportunity for
display. Disraeli's books brought him in only small sums, and his father's
moderate fortune had been sadly drawn upon. He was well past thirty, and
was not making head, simply because he was cramped for funds. To rise in
politics you must have an establishment; you must entertain and reach out
and bring those you wish to influence within your scope. A third floor
back, in an ebb-tide street, will not do. Like Agassiz, Disraeli had no
time to make money--it was a sad plight. But this was a man of destiny,
and to use the language of Augustine Birrell, "Wyndam Lewis at this time
accommodatingly died." Mrs. Wyndam Lewis had been the firm friend and
helper of Disraeli for many years, and although a small matter of fifteen
years separated them as to ages, yet their hearts beat as one.

Scarce a twelvemonth had gone before the widow and Disraeli were married.
They disappeared from London for some months, journeying on the Continent.
When they returned all the old scores in way of unpaid bills against
Disraeli were paid, and he was master of an establishment.

Disraeli was thirty-five, his wife was fifty, but it was a happy mating.
They thought alike, and their ambitions were the same. Disraeli treated
his wife with all the courtly grace and deference in which he was an
adept, and her princely fortune was absolutely his. "There was much cause
for gratitude on both sides," said O'Connell. And there is no doubt that
Disraeli's wife proved the firmest friend he ever had. For many years she
was his sole confidante and best adviser. She attended him everywhere and
relieved him of many burdens. That true incident of her fingers being
crushed by the careless slamming of the carriage-door, and her hiding the
bleeding members in her muff, and attending her husband to the House of
Commons, where he was to speak, refusing to disturb him by her pain--this
symbols the moral quality of the woman. She was the fit mate of a great
man, and it is pleasant to know that she was honored and appreciated.

* * * *