She used to be Lady Shalem you know, before her husband got the earldom--to be more correct, before she got it for him.

I suppose she is all agog to see the great review." It was in fact precisely the absorbing topic of the forthcoming Boy-Scout march-past that was engaging the Countess of Bailquist's earnest attention at the moment.
"It is going to be an historical occasion," she was saying to Sir Leonard Pitherby (whose services to literature had up to the present received only a half-measure of recognition); "if it miscarries it will be a serious set-back for the fait accompli.

If it is a success it will be the biggest step forward in the path of reconciliation between the two races that has yet been taken.

It will mean that the younger generation is on our side--not all, of course, but some, that is all we can expect at present, and that will be enough to work on." "Supposing the Scouts hang back and don't turn up in any numbers," said Sir Leonard anxiously.
"That of course is the danger," said Lady Bailquist quietly; "probably two-thirds of the available strength will hold back, but a third or even a sixth would be enough; it would redeem the parade from the calamity of fiasco, and it would be a nucleus to work on for the future.

That is what we want, a good start, a preliminary rally.