Lady Lufton had always taken a keen interest in the politics of East
Barsetshire, and was now desirous of expressing her satisfaction that
a Gresham should again sit for the county. The Greshams had been old
county members in Barsetshire, time out of mind.
"Oh, yes; I believe so," said Frank, blushing. He was still young
enough to feel almost ashamed of putting himself forward for such
high honours.
"There will be no contest, of course," said Lady Lufton,
confidentially. "There seldom is in East Barsetshire, I am happy to
say. But if there were, every tenant at Framley would vote on the
right side; I can assure you of that. Lord Lufton was saying so to
me only this morning." Frank Gresham made a pretty little speech in
reply, such as young sucking politicians are expected to make; and
this, with sundry other small courteous murmurings, detained the
Lufton party for a minute or two in the ante-chamber. In the meantime
the world was pressing on and passing through to the four or five
large reception-rooms--the noble suite which was already piercing
poor Mrs. Proudie's heart with envy to the very core. "These are the
sort of rooms," she said to herself unconsciously, "which ought to be
provided by the country for the use of its bishops.
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