James Garfit keeps in, and Mr. Leeke really resigns for him."
Mr. Leeke was the Minister for Mines, and he was in precarious health and anxious to get to England, and it was generally supposed among the squatting politicians that he was keeping his post only till Frank Hallett was ready to step into his shoes.
Elsie put the iron back on the stove, and took up another, testing its heat against her delicate face. Her eyes took a far away look, as she stood for a moment or two with the iron in her hand. "I wonder if he will remember the violets," she murmured, but it was not of Frank Hallett she was thinking.
She was to go with Ina to the House that afternoon, when Frank Hallett would move the debate on the Speech. It had been said that Blake would speak also. Ina and her husband had asked her to lunch with them at Fermoy's, and she wondered whether there was any likelihood of Blake being there also. She knew that there was no chance of either Blake or Frank Hallett calling that forenoon, but she expected Minnie Pryde, and perhaps some of her various admirers, who would give her the news of the opening.
Minnie Pryde came early. She came fortified with banana candy, and sat down on the verandah steps prepared for what she called a "jabber."
"The Garfits have fastened on to Lady Stukeley," she announced, "and so has Mrs. Jem Hallett. I think she must have got her dress from England."
"Who, Mrs. Jem—yes, I know she did—why?"
"It was the very cut of Lady Stukeley's. Oh, Elsie, why can't we have our things from England? I declare I'd marry anybody who would let me have a box every year from London. ... There were a lot of new men there," continued Minnie, " several new Western members, and then the private secretary and aide-de-camp, only he is married, and his wife is a dowdy, I can tell you. Well, I can tell you too, that I was rather glad you weren't at the Opening," said Miss Pryde, with an air of fine candor. "The new
