MRS. FARRANT.  Mamma, have you ever discussed so-called anti-Christian science with Lord Charles?

FRANCES TREBELL ...  Cantelupe?

MRS. FARRANT.  Yes.  It was over appointing a teacher for the schools down here ... he was staying with us.  The Vicar’s his fervent disciple.  However, we were consulted.

LUCY DAVENPORT.  Didn’t Lord Charles want you to send the boys there till they were ready for Harrow?

MRS. FARRANT.  Yes.

FRANCES TREBELL.  Quite the last thing in Toryism!

MRS. FARRANT.  Mamma made George say we were too nouveau riche to risk it.

LADY DAVENPORT. [As she laughs.] I couldn’t resist that.

MRS. FARRANT. [Catching something of her subject’s dry driving manner.] Lord Charles takes the superior line and says ... that with his consent the Church may teach the unalterable Truth in scientific language or legendary, whichever is easier understanded of the people.

LADY DAVENPORT.  Is it the prospect of Disestablishment suddenly makes him so accommodating?

FRANCES TREBELL. [With large contempt.] He needn’t be.  The majority of people believe the world was made in an English week.

LUCY DAVENPORT.  Oh, no!

FRANCES TREBELL.  No Bishop dare deny it.

MRS. FARRANT. [From the heights of experience.] Dear Lucy, do you seriously think that the English spirit—­the nerve that runs down the backbone—­is disturbed by new theology ... or new anything?

LADY DAVENPORT. [Enjoying her epigram.] What a waste of persecution history shows us!

      WALTER KENT now captures the conversation with a very young
      politician’s fervour.

WALTER KENT.  Once they’re disestablished they must make up their minds what they do believe.

LADY DAVENPORT.  I presume Lord Charles thinks it’ll hand the Church over to him and his ... dare I say ‘Sect’?

WALTER KENT.  Won’t it?  He knows what he wants.

MRS. FARRANT. [Subtly.] There’s the election to come yet.

WALTER KENT.  But now both parties are pledged to a bill of some sort.

MRS. FARRANT.  Political prophecies have a knack of not coming true; but, d’you know, Cyril Horsham warned me to watch this position developing ... nearly four years ago.

FRANCES TREBELL.  Sitting on the opposition bench sharpens the eye-sight.

WALTER KENT. [Ironically.] Has he been pleased with the prospect?

MRS. FARRANT. [With perfect diplomacy] If the Church must be disestablished ... better done by its friends than its enemies.

FRANCES TREBELL.  Still I don’t gather he’s pleased with his dear cousin
Charles’s conduct.

MRS. FARRANT. [Shrugging.] Oh, lately, Lord Charles has never concealed his tactics.

FRANCES TREBELL.  And that speech at Leeds was the crowning move I suppose; just asking the Nonconformists to bring things to a head?