hem only to die down and disappoint.

Nor was Mr. Isidore, during this time, the least part of our
Chaplain's trial. Mr. Julius might flatter, proclaiming him a born
organiser: but this was small consolation when Mr. Isidore (an artist
by temperament) stamped and swore over every small hitch.

"Sobscribtions? Zat is your affaire, whad the devil!"

Or again: "Am I a dog to be bozzered by your General Committees or
your influential batrons? . . . You wandt a Bageant, _hein?_
Var'y well, I brovide it: It is I will mek a sogcess. Go to hell for
your influenzial batrons: or go to Julius. He can lick ze boot, not
I!"

On the other hand, Mr. Julius, while willing enough to spend money
for which he foresaw a satisfactory return, had no mind to risk it
until assured of the support of local 'Society.' He could afford some
thousands of pounds better than a public fiasco.

"We must have the County behind us," he kept chanting.

Afterwards, looking back on the famous Merchester Pageant, Mr. Colt
accurately dated its success from the hour when he called on Lady
Shaftesbury and enlisted her to open the annual Sale of Work of the
Girls' Friendly Society. Sir John Shaftesbury, somewhat late in
life, had married a wife many years his junior; a dazzling beauty, a
dashing horsewoman, and moreover a lady who, having spent the years
of her eligible maidenhood largely among politicians and racehorses,
had acquired the knack and habit of living in the public eye.
She adored her husband, as did everyone who knew him: but life at
Shaftesbury Court had its _longueurs_ even in the hunting season.
Sir John would (he steadily declared) as lief any day go to prison as
enter Parliament--a reluctance to which Mr. Bamberger owed his seat
for Merchester. Finding herself thus headed off one opportunity of
making tactful little public speeches, in raiments to which the Press
would give equal prominence, Lady Shaftesbury had turned her thoughts
to good work, even before Mr. Colt called with his petition.

She assented to it with a very pretty grace. Her speech at the Sale
of Work was charming, and she talked to her audience about the
Empire; reminded them that they were all members of one body; called
them her "dear Girl Friendlies": and hoped, though a new-comer, in
future to see a great deal more of them. They applauded this passage
_de bon coeur_, and indeed pronounced the whole speech "So womanly!"
At its close Mr. Colt, proposing a vot