I was shocked by his apparent detachment and said: 

“But do you mean to tell me you don’t think there is any danger of England becoming Protectionist?”

Lord Salisbury (with a sweet smile):  “Not the slightest!  There will always be a certain number of foolish people who will be Protectionists, but they will easily be overpowered by the wise ones.  Have you ever known a man of first-rate intellect in this country who was a Protectionist?”

Margot:  “I never thought of it, but Lord Milner is the only one I can think of for the moment.”

He entirely agreed with me and said: 

“No, you need not be anxious.  Free Trade will always win against Protection in this country.  This will not be the trouble of the future.”

Margot:  “Then what will be?”

Lord Salisbury:  “The House of Lords is the difficulty that I foresee.”

I was surprised and incredulous and said quietly: 

“Dear Lord Salisbury, I have heard of the House of Lords all my life!  But, stupid as it has been, no one will ever have the power to alter it.  Why do you prophesy that it will cause trouble?”

Lord Salisbury:  “You may think me vain, Mrs. Asquith, but, as long as I am there, nothing will happen.  I understand my lords thoroughly; but, when I go, mistakes will be made:  the House of Lords will come into conflict with the Commons.”

Margot:  “You should have taught it better ways!  I am afraid it must be your fault!”

Lord Salisbury (smiling):  “Perhaps; but what do you think will be the next subject of controversy?”

Margot:  “If what you say is true and Protection is impossible in this country, I think the next row will be over the Church of England; it is in a bad way.”

I proceeded to denounce the constant building of churches while the parsons’ pay was so cruelly small.  I said that few good men could afford to go into the Church at all; and the assumed voices, both in the reading and in the preaching, got on the nerves of every one who cared to listen to such a degree that the churches were becoming daily duller and emptier.

He listened with patience to all this and then got up and said: 

“Now I must go; I shall not see you again.”

Something in his voice made me look at him.

“You aren’t ill, are you?” I asked with apprehension.

To which he replied: 

“I am going into the country.”

I never saw him again and, when I heard of his death, I regretted
I had not seen him oftener.

CHAPTER VIII

THE BEAUTIFUL KATE VAUGHAN—­COACHED BY COQUELIN IN MOLIERE—­ ROSEBERY’S POPULARITY AND ELOQUENCE—­CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN BON-VIVANT AND BOULEVARDIER—­BALFOUR’S MOT; HIS CHARM AND WIT; HIS TASTES AND PREFERENCES; HIS RELIGIOUS SPECULATION