Adventure stories; Imaginary places -- Fiction; Kings and rulers -- Fiction; London (England) -- Fiction; Love stories
"I should say it would be most exciting," said Tony. "Especially the
heavy-weight championship." He poured himself out half a glass of
sherry and held it up to the light. "Talking of heavy-weights," he
added, "how did you find our dear Cousin Henry?"
"Henry was very well," said Guy. "He is coming to see you."
Tony put down his glass and surveyed his cousin reproachfully. "And
you call yourself a secretary and a friend?" he remarked.
"I think it is very good for you to entertain Cousin Henry
occasionally," returned Guy. "He is an excellent antidote to the
Cosmopolitan Club and Brooklands." He paused. "Besides, he has a
suggestion to make with which I am thoroughly in sympathy."
A depressed expression flitted across Tony's face. "I am sure it has
something to do with my duty," he said.
Guy nodded. "I wish you would try and look on it in that light.
Henry has put himself to a lot of trouble about it, and he will be
very hurt if you don't take it seriously."
"My dear Guy!" said Tony. "A proposal of Henry's with which you are
in sympathy couldn't possibly be taken any other way. What is it?"
"He has set his heart on your going into Parliament as you know.
Well, he told me that last week he had spoken about you to the Chief
Whip, and that they are arranging for you to stand as Government
candidate for Balham North at the next general election."
There was a long pause.
"For where?" inquired Tony faintly.
"For Balham North. It's a large constituency in South London close
to Upper Tooting."
"It would be," said Tony. "And may I ask what I have done to deserve
this horrible fate?"
"That's just it," said Guy. "You haven't done anything. Henry
feels--indeed we all feel that as head of the family it is quite time
you made a start."
"You don't understand," said Tony with some dignity. "I am sowing my
wild oats. It is what every wealthy young baronet is expected to do."
"Leaving out the war," retorted Guy, "you have been sowing them for
exactly six years and nine months."
Tony smiled contentedly. "I always think," he observed, "that if a
thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well."
There was another pause, while Guy, crumbling a bit of bread between
his fingers, regarded his cousin with a thoughtful scrutiny.
"As far as I can see, Tony," he said, "there is only one thing that's
the least likely to do you any good. You want a complete change in
your life--something that will wake you up to a sense of duty and
responsibility. I think you ought to get married."
Tony, who was helping himself to a glass of champagne, paused
abruptly in the middle of that engaging occupation.
"How remarkable!" he exclaimed. "Only yesterday Aunt Fanny made
exactly the same suggestion. It must be something in the spring air."
"I don't always agree with Aunt Fanny," said Guy, "but I think that
for once in a way she was giving you excellent advice. A good wife
would make a tremendous difference in your life."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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