ST. HERBERT It has all been so sudden--as the early Victorian
heroine was fond of remarking!

GEOFFREY [Laughs.] It has been sudden. We had, none of us, any
idea till yesterday that old Bullock was thinking of resigning.

ELIZABETH [She has risen and moved towards the fire.] Won't it
necessitate a bye-election?

[LADY MOGTON and ST. HERBERT have been thinking it out. On the
others the word falls like a bombshell.]

GEOFFREY [He turns to her. He does not see their faces.] Yes.
But I don't anticipate a contest. The Conservatives are without a
candidate, and I am on good terms with the Labour Party. Perhaps
Mr. Hunnable--[He laughs, then, turning, catches sight of his
wife's face. From ANNYS he looks to the others.]

LADY MOGTON [She has risen.] You haven't heard, then, of McCaw
versus Potts?

GEOFFREY "McCaw versus Potts!" What the -

ST. HERBERT Was decided in the House of Lords late yesterday
afternoon. Briefly stated, it confers upon women the right of
becoming Parliamentary candidates.

GEOFFREY [He is staggered.] You mean -