It had arisen because Mr. Derringham had
launched forth the abominable and preposterous theory that the only
thing the Radicals would bring England to would be the necessity of
returning to barbarism and importing slaves--then their schemes applied
to the present inhabitants of the country might all work. The denizens
in the casual wards, having a vote and a competence provided by the
State, would have time to become of the leisured classes and apply
themselves to culture, and so every free citizen being equal, a company
of philosophers and an aristocracy of intellect would arise and all
would be well!
Mrs. Cricklander glanced stealthily at his whimsical face, to be sure
whether he were joking or no--and decided he probably was. But Mr.
Hanbury-Green, so irritated by the delightful hostess's evident
_penchant_ for his rival, allowed his ill-humor to obscure his usually
keen judgment, and took the matter up in serious earnest.
"Your side would not import, but reduce us all--we who are the defenders
of the people--to being slaves," he said with some asperity.
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