DOI article:
Harland, Henry: The Queen's pleasure
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27806#0055
By Henry Harland 51
could do any one of us an evil turn at any moment. He could
cut down our Civil List to-morrow, or even send us packing, and
establish a republic. We’re dependent for everything upon his
pleasure. I think, really, my dear, you ought to try to be decent
to him—if only for prudence’ sake.”
“ Decent to him ! ” echoed her Majesty. “ I like that ! As
if I didn’t treat him a hundred million times better than he
deserves ! I hope he can’t complain that I’m not decent to
him.”
“You’re not exactly effusive, do you think? I don’t mean
that you stick your tongue out at him, or throw things at
his head. But trust him for understanding. It’s what you
leave unsaid and undone, rather than what you say or do. He’s
fully conscious of the sort of place he occupies in your heart, and
he resents it. He thinks you distrust him, suspect him, look down
upon him. . . .”
“Well, and so I do,” interrupted the Oueen. “And so do
you. And so does everybody who has any right feeling.”
“Yes; but those of us who are wise in our generation keep
our private sentiments regarding him under lock and key. We
remember his power, and treat him respectfully to his face, how-
ever much we may despise him in secret. What’s the use of
quarrelling with our bread and butter ? We should seek to
propitiate him, to rub him the right way.”
“ Then you would actually like me to grovel, to toady, to a
disgusting little low-born, black-hearted cad like Tsargradev ! ”
cried the Oueen, with scorn.
"V *
“Oh, dear me, no,” protested her husband. “But there’s a
vast difference between toadying, and being a little tactful, a little
diplomatic. I should like you to treat him with something more
than bare civility.”
“Well,
could do any one of us an evil turn at any moment. He could
cut down our Civil List to-morrow, or even send us packing, and
establish a republic. We’re dependent for everything upon his
pleasure. I think, really, my dear, you ought to try to be decent
to him—if only for prudence’ sake.”
“ Decent to him ! ” echoed her Majesty. “ I like that ! As
if I didn’t treat him a hundred million times better than he
deserves ! I hope he can’t complain that I’m not decent to
him.”
“You’re not exactly effusive, do you think? I don’t mean
that you stick your tongue out at him, or throw things at
his head. But trust him for understanding. It’s what you
leave unsaid and undone, rather than what you say or do. He’s
fully conscious of the sort of place he occupies in your heart, and
he resents it. He thinks you distrust him, suspect him, look down
upon him. . . .”
“Well, and so I do,” interrupted the Oueen. “And so do
you. And so does everybody who has any right feeling.”
“Yes; but those of us who are wise in our generation keep
our private sentiments regarding him under lock and key. We
remember his power, and treat him respectfully to his face, how-
ever much we may despise him in secret. What’s the use of
quarrelling with our bread and butter ? We should seek to
propitiate him, to rub him the right way.”
“ Then you would actually like me to grovel, to toady, to a
disgusting little low-born, black-hearted cad like Tsargradev ! ”
cried the Oueen, with scorn.
"V *
“Oh, dear me, no,” protested her husband. “But there’s a
vast difference between toadying, and being a little tactful, a little
diplomatic. I should like you to treat him with something more
than bare civility.”
“Well,