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end of party is to buy your opponentsthe great statesman buys them for
nothing。〃
Here the attendant genius of Mr。 Crampton made his appearance； and
whispered something； to which the little gentleman said； 〃Show her
Ladyship in；〃when the attendant disappeared。
〃John；〃 said Mr。 Crampton； with a very queer smile； 〃you can't stay in
this room while Lady Gorgon is with me； but there is a little clerk's room
behind the screen there； where you can wait until I call you。〃
John retired； and as he closed the door of communication； strange to
say； little Mr。 Crampton sprang up and said； 〃Confound the young ninny；
he has shut the door！〃
Mr。 Crampton then； remembering that he wanted a map in the next
room； sprang into it； left the door half open in coming out； and was in time
to receive Her Ladyship with smiling face as she； ushered by Mr。
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Strongitharm； majestically sailed in。
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CHAPTER III。
BEHIND THE SCENES。
In issuing from and leaving open the door of the inner room； Mr。
Crampton had bestowed upon Mr。 Perkins a look so peculiarly arch； that
even he； simple as he was； began to imagine that some mystery was about
to be cleared up； or some mighty matter to be discussed。 Presently he
heard the well…known voice of Lady Gorgon in conversation with his
uncle。 What could their talk be about？ Mr。 Perkins was dying to know；
andshall we say it？advanced to the door on tiptoe and listened with all
his might。
Her Ladyship； that Juno of a woman； if she had not borrowed Venus's
girdle to render herself irresistible； at least had adopted a tender； coaxing；
wheedling； frisky tone； quite different from her ordinary dignified style of
conversation。 She called Mr。 Crampton a naughty man； for neglecting
his old friends； vowed that Sir George was quite hurt at his not coming to
dinenor fixing a day when he would comeand added； with a most
engaging ogle； that she had three fine girls at home； who would perhaps
make an evening pass pleasantly； even to such a gay bachelor as Mr。
Crampton。
〃Madam；〃 said he； with much gravity； 〃the daughters of such a mother
must be charming； but I； who have seen your Ladyship； am； alas！ proof
against even them。〃
Both parties here heaved tremendous sighs and affected to be
wonderfully unhappy about something。
〃I wish；〃 after a pause； said Lady Gorgon〃I wish； dear Mr。 Crampton；
you would not use that odious title 'my Ladyship：' you know it always
makes me melancholy。〃
〃Melancholy； my dear Lady Gorgon； and why？〃
〃Because it makes me think of another title that ought to have been
mineours （I speak for dear Sir George's and my darling boy's sake；
Heaven knows； not mine）。 What a sad disappointment it has been to my
husband； that after all his services； all the promises he has had； they have
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never given him his peerage。 As for me； you know〃
〃For you； my dear madam； I know quite well that you care for no such
bauble as a coronet； except in so far as it may confer honour upon those
most dear to youexcellent wife and noble mother as you are。 Heigho！
what a happy man is Sir George！〃
Here there was another pause； and if Mr。 Perkins could have seen what
was taking place behind the screen； he would have beheld little Mr。
Crampton looking into Lady Gorgon's face； with as love…sick a Romeo…
gaze as he could possibly counterfeit； while her Ladyship； blushing
somewhat and turning her own grey gogglers up to heaven； received all
his words for gospel； and sat fancying herself to be the best； most
meritorious； and most beautiful creature in the three kingdoms。
〃You men are terrible flatterers；〃 continued she； 〃but you say right：
for myself I value not these empty distinctions。 I am growing old； Mr。
Crampton；yes； indeed； I am； although you smile so incredulously；and
let me add； that MY thoughts are fixed upon HIGHER things than earthly
crowns。 But tell me； you who are all in all with Lord Bagwig； are we
never to have our peerage？ His Majesty； I know； is not averse； the
services of dear Sir George to a member of His Majesty's august family； I
know； have been appreciated in the highest quarter。 Ever since the peace
we have had a promise。 Four hundred pounds has Sir George spent at the
Heralds' Office （I myself am of one of the most ancient families in the
kingdom； Mr。 Crampton）； and the poor dear man's health is really ruined
by the anxious sickening feeling of hope so long delayed。〃
Mr。 Crampton now assumed an air of much solemnity。
〃My dear Lady Gorgon；〃 said he； 〃will you let me be frank with you；
and will you promise solemnly that what I am going to tell you shall never
be repeated to a single soul？〃
Lady Gorgon promised。
〃Well； then； since the truth you must know； you yourselves have been
in part the cause of the delay of which you complain。 You gave us two
votes five years ago； you now only give us one。 If Sir George were to go
up to the Peers； we should lose even that one vote； and would it be
common sense in us to incur such a loss？ Mr。 Scully； the Liberal； would
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return another Member of his own way of thinking； and as for the Lords；
we have； you know； a majority there。〃
〃Oh； that horrid man！〃 said Lady Gorgon； cursing Mr。 Scully in her
heart； and beginning to play a rapid tattoo with her feet； 〃that miscreant；
that traitor； thatthat attorney has been our ruin。〃
〃Horrid man； if you please； but give me leave to tell you that the horrid
man is not the sole cause of your ruinif ruin you will call it。 I am sorry
to say that I do candidly think Ministers believe that Sir George Gorgon
has lost his influence in Oldborough as