Page:Wives of the prime ministers, 1844-1906.djvu/219

MRS. GLADSTONE In August Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone and the children went to Fasque on a visit to his father. From Glasgow to Fasque she travelled on the outside of the mail coach, a twelve hours' drive, her first experience of such a mode of journeying, enjoying it immensely. When returning in October, prevented by bad weather from going by sea as they had intended from Dundee to London, they caught the midnight mail from Perth. Only one inside place was available, so Mrs. Gladstone elected to mount to the top with her husband, and so travelled all night, "cold and blowing a high wind."

Some of the entries in the Journal for 1844 show that Mrs. Gladstone's mind was turning towards the distress in London which, later on, she was to do so much to relieve. At dinner in March with the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, her host talked to her of the misery existing in London, and she thought his conversation showed the interest and pains he took. At this period she often went to the House of Commons, and one night heard Shiel," his style fluent and brilliant, but ranting, and the voice peculiarly discordant and unpleasant"; and on another. Lord Ashley on the Factory question. 183