In May, 1910, King Edward died, and all these gladiators, male and
female, willingly declared a Truce in the Suffrage battle, to obtain
a much needed rest in the weary conflict. As soon as political
activities were resumed, the Conciliation Bill by the energies of
the Liberal Whips was talked out (wasn't it?). At any rate it came
to nothing for that Session. Vivie took this as a decision. She
openly declared that the Vote never would be given by the House of
Commons or House of Lords until it was wrung from the Legislature by
a complete dislocation of public affairs, the nearest approach to a
revolution women could bring about without rifles and cannon.
Meantime she refused to be duped by Ministers or by amiable
go-betweens. She resolved instead, perhaps for the last time, to
resume the clothes and status of David Williams, go down to Wales,
and stay with her father who was dying by slow degrees.
The letters which the curate had written from time to time to D.V.
Williams, Esq., care of Michael Rossiter, Esq., F.R.S., and usually
forwarded on by Bertie Adams, had told David how much the Revd.
Howel Williams had failed since the cold spring of 1909, and how in
the colder spring of 1910 he had once or twice narrowly survived
influenza. In July, 1910, he was dying of heart failure.
Nevertheless the return of David, his well-beloved, brought to him a
flicker of renewed life, a little pink in the cheeks, and some
garrulity.
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