"If that woman can't clear her soup better than that, she might as well go to the d----," said the Earl;--upon which remark no one in the company made any observation.

As there were two men-servants in the room when it was made the cook probably had the advantage of it.

It may be almost unnecessary to add that though the Earl had polished manners for certain occasions he would sometimes throw them off in the bosom of his own family.
"My Lord," said Miss Cassewary--she always called him "My Lord"-- "Lord Silverbridge is going to stand for the Duke's borough in the Conservative interest." "I didn't know the Duke had a borough," said the Earl.
"He had one till he thought it proper to give it up," said the son, taking his father's part.
"And you are going to pay him off for what he has done by standing against him.

It's just the sort of thing for a son to do in these days.

If I had a borough Percival would go down and make radical speeches there." "There isn't a better Conservative in England than Percival," said Lady Mabel, bridling up.
"Nor a worse son," said the father.