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XVI.

Nelly was established by Jack in a pretty little house, and for a few days he was able to visit her every evening and to enjoy to the utmost the pleasure of renewed intimacy with his betrothed. This was not done, however, without much comment and angry debate among the women, but the rumor of discontent did not reach the ears of the King, whose hours of daylight were filled with a hundred arduous tasks and his evenings with a wealth of delight.

Naturally, he disliked at this time to leave the town for more than a few hours, but another reclaiming expedition was necessary, and was organized with the help of those of the country division who had not taken part in the first exploration. This time they proceeded to occupy the lands about the Whau and Waitakerei, and proceeded to reconnoitre northwards by the Wade towards Mahurangi and Waiwera. Jack was absent for some days, and on his return one evening a great surprise awaited him. He found the Supreme Court brilliantly lighted up, and, on enquiry, learnt that the Council had assembled, and was in full session. So absorbed had he been in the work of re-colonizing the page 109farm lands that he had forgotten his own proclamation of the day of assembly for the Council. Having had his dinner and changed his dress, Jack resolved to go across and listen to the debate. On enquiry of Jenny what subject was then engaging the attention of the Council, he was told to his horror, that it was "The Royal Marriage Bill," this being deemed the subject of primary importance. He went across to the building wherein his fate was to be decided, and calling one of the officials aside, he instructed her to give him a place where he could hear without attention being attracted to his presence.

He listened for an hour to orations in which the speakers dilated on the course which was evidently marked out for him by Fate, and signified that it was not to be doubted that he would certainly prove worthy of his high calling. They spoke of his courage, his hopefulness, his capacity for work, and his great ability. No one seemed to fear that he would shrink from the honoured responsibility of being the Father of the Nations in the time to come. One speaker feebly essayed to differ on religious grounds concerning polygamy, but was silenced by quotations concerning the family arrangements of Abraham, David and Solomon; and also with arguments that in times of great disaster all rules of artificial morality should give way, and all customary formulæ be suspended for the Perseus who should deliver the Woman-Andromeda from the monster of Extinction.

One of the speeches he particularly noticed was that of a bright sensible-looking girl with a very quiet and assured manner. With little movement or gesture of oratory she addressed herself directly to the President, who proved to be Jack's first friend, Miss Henley, now page 110Lady Margaret Henley. "On the general principle of the Bill, which only contains one short clause, there can be little discussion or debate. We seem agreed that the King's marriage is absolutely necessary, and there is little dissent on the principal detail, viz.: that the number of those that share his throne shall be twenty in all. Where I see difficulty is in what way can the twenty be chosen without arousing bitter jealousy among the claimants for so great an honor? Shall the decision be left to the King's choice, or shall we choose for him? If we decide on the latter course, what are the rules that should guide the selection? The King may decline to choose, where among so many the choice would be embarrassing and the result appear invidious. It is to this aspect of the question that I invite all the ladies of the Council to direct their attention, and to consider this practical point at issue."

The speaker was succeeded by a dignified woman of middle age but whose attitude expressed much self-consciousness. She spoke with a slight mincing in the pronunciation of her words. "My Lady President," she began, "Lady Hilda Morrison has certainly expressed the sentiments of many of us, and she has made us think of the real subject of discussion, that is, who our future queens shall be. Now, as I have the honor to represent the most exclusive suburb of the city, I may perhaps be allowed to express myself as in favor of the natural leaders of society being appointed to the royal position. Only those familiar with courts and refined circles could possibly satisfy the demands of royal station, and command the respect of the common people, who for years were accustomed to look up to the aristocracy of this colony, and have only forgotten their proper position because of the bouleversement of affairs page 111which followed the great calamity. If the Council will permit me I will act as a committee to nominate the twenty ladies fitted for the high position."

Before the speaker could sit down a girl named Lady Etty Armstrong, a representative of the working women, dashed to her feet and said, "Lady President, have we been called here to be insulted? Shall we have to listen to the old, old sneers in the first hours of the new Council? For years women like her have trampled on us. What are they good for, her and her twenty ladies? They used to think themselves industrious when they ordered a dinner or scolded a servant; now they are no better than we are under our new leader (bless him!) who is determined we shall all work. When the King marries, don't let him marry a doll! Let his brides be chosen from among the healthy well-grown daughters of the people, who have always done their work and kept you from starving. Yes, every one of you! I wouldn't mind if she was a real lady whose people had always been ladies and gentlemen, but her grandfather sold treacle and straw-bonnets ——"

Here the denounced member appealed to the President for protection. "Was she to be defamed and insulted like this? Her grandfather had never sold straw-bonnets; they were straw-hats, and ——"

The President tapped with her hammer and commanded silence. She addressed the Council, and hoped that all personal allusions would cease. At such a time as this, the crisis of the destiny of the future race, they should avoid all littleness, and remember their high mission. She hoped the debate would resume the lofty tone which had distinguished its opening speeches.

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Lady Amy Winterfield, B.A., a slight, delicate young lady with a severe face and a thin clear voice, then continued the discussion. "I think," she said, "that in this matter the proposal of neither of the two latter speakers should be entertained. Neither the social position of the once-rich, nor the virtuous perfection of the laboring classes, should be allowed to monopolise the important choice. What is the poor perishing body, the fount of corruption and weakness, compared to the lofty claims of the soul? It is to those who, by the higher culture, have conquered the frailty of the flesh that we should look for the pure spiritual people of the future, ever rising towards a refining away of the grosser particles, and the emancipation of the Ego from the material husk. Let us choose our queens by competitive examination, the twenty with the highest marks to be in the Honours-list of royalty."

"Lady President," said a bright-faced little woman, rising to her feet, "I was about to observe that we haven't decided yet whether the choice should be left to us at all. Now, I think it might be left to him, because we all know that he is love with that sweet girl Nelly Farrell."

Here there was a perfect tumult of interruptions and indignant protests. One lady cried, "We will not have other persons' names introduced into the debate." Another said, "She has nothing to do with State affairs at all." "Sit down!" etc., etc.

The President again called the Council to order and when quiet was restored Lady Ethel Hammond caught the eye of the President.

She had been one of the most notable among those who before Jack's arrival had attempted to reduce matters to order and useful routine. She posed as the page 113"Princess Ida" of the community, and indeed was fit through her courageous and independent spirit to be a champion and leader of her sex. She said, "It seems to me that we are on ground altogether false and shifting. We have never in any way limited the power of the king; we have no Constitution, and we do not know the boundaries of his jurisdiction or our own. I was always opposed to putting him into an autocratic position; I voted against his election, and I again protest against the supreme position of a man in our woman's world. Why should we willingly put our necks beneath the foot of a single man? (A frivolous member interjected that he wouldn't be a single man long.) I, for one, decline to lay down my liberty even before a woman, and we should certainly safeguard ourselves against refusal or disregard of our wishes. Let us pass an Act taking from the king this foolish royalty we have bestowed—(cries of 'Treason!' 'Shame!') and call him the First Consort, or some other title that would imply that the supreme power still rests with the representatives of the people, and that in this plural marriage, as in all else, he is only the servant of the State."

Ethel was followed by an older woman; grave, sententious, and full of dignity. She said, "If, Lady President, I express myself slowly and with difficulty, it is because in the days of my education public speaking was an art unknown to my sex. It has been acquired with great facility and (bowing her head to each side) with much success. I only hope that we may acquire more useful knowledge as quickly and completely. This we can only do by the help of that brave, resolute, and clever man who has been selected by Providence, as well as by the unanimous vote of this people, to be our page 114guide and ruler. (Cheers.) It is evident to me that the marvellous and terrible series of circumstances which has led us to our present position points out to us that it is we and the King together who must choose. And in this manner should the matter be accomplished: From our thousands we will select one hundred of the most perfect specimens of womanhood in our midst, and these we will present to His Majesty, that from their numbers he may choose the twenty to be honoured with the throne. (Cheers.) Thus shall we all exercise the power of choice. Now, my Lady President, I come to the second part of the subject. Have we any reason to suppose that the King will fall in with our views? I know from the little that I have seen of his temper that he is a downright straightforward man, able to think out his own line of conduct, and to keep to that line unflinchingly if he considers it right. Now, suppose that he insists upon marrying Nelly Farrell, as he openly declares that he will do; suppose that he laughs at our hundred candidates for the royal choice, and declares that he will marry this girl, and this girl only, what then?"

Silence fell upon the assembly for one brief moment, and then a chorus of cries and exclamations filled the Chamber. The excitement grew intense. At last a girl who had not yet spoken stood up and claimed attention. She cried, "I do not talk much generally, but I swear that if the will and purpose of the nation be broken down through the sentimental folly of one woman, I will cut through this difficulty with the dagger of Charlotte Corday!" She was wildly cheered.

The President rose and said, "It is not necessary for us to use strong expressions, or show excitement in a theatrical manner. If such a course becomes necessary, page 115a State Indictment will be laid against the girl who is the obstacle to our wishes, and it shall be proven that the common good of all is high above private happiness or individual safety. We may consider that question decided; in that direction there is no outlet for the King's wishes to be granted. Let us resume the debate as to the choice of the hundred candidates. For my part ——"

Here Jack, feeling sick at heart as he saw his dreams of domestic happiness melting into air, left the Council Chamber, having had even more than his fill of eloquence.