"
"Talk, talk. They have threatened this half-a-dozen times.
Smoke, sir; it will end in smoke."
I hope it may; but I know, in great confidence mind you, that
Lord John was saying something about it yesterday."
"That may be; I believe our fellows are heartily sick of the
business, and perhaps would be glad of an excuse to break up
the government: but we must not have Peel in; nothing could
prevent a dissolution."
"Their fellows go about and say that Peel would not dissolve
if he came in."
"Trust him!"
"He has had enough of dissolutions they say."
"Why, after all they have not done him much harm. Even --34
was a hit."
"Whoever dissolves," said Mr Egerton, "I don't think there
will be much of a majority either way in our time."
"We have seen strange things," said Mr Berners.
"They never would think of breaking up the government without
making their peers," said Mr Egerton.
"The Queen is not over partial to making more peers; and when
parties are in the present state of equality, the Sovereign is
no longer a mere pageant."
"They say her Majesty is more touched about these affairs of
the Chartists than anything else," said Mr Egerton.
"They are rather queer; but for my part I have no serious
fears of a Jacquerie.
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