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? MRS. FARRANT. [_Judicially._] I think that was precipitate. WALTER KENT. [_Giving them_ LORD CHARLES'S _oratory._] Gentlemen, in these latter days of Radical opportunism!--You know, I was there ... sitting next to an old gentleman who shouted "Jesuit." FRANCES TREBELL. But supposing Mallaby and the Nonconformists hadn't been able to force the Liberals' hand? MRS. FARRANT. [_Speaking as of inferior beings._] Why, they were glad of any cry going to the Country! FRANCES TREBELL. [_As she considers this._] Yes ... and Lord Charles would still have had as good a chance of forcing Lord Horsham's. It has been clever tactics. LUCY DAVENPORT. [_Who has been listening, sharp-eyed._] Contrariwise, he wouldn't have liked a Radical Bill though, would he? WALTER KENT. [_With aplomb._] He knew he was safe from that. The government must have dissolved before Christmas anyway ... and the swing of the pendulum's a sure thing. MRS. FARRANT. [_With her smile._] It's never a sure thing. WALTER KENT. Oh, Mrs. Farrant, look how unpopular the Liberals are. FRANCES TREBELL. What made them bring in Resolutions?