Various suggestions were made.  Some said that as Mr Alf had a large share in the newspaper, and as its success was now an established fact, he himself intended to retire from the laborious position which he filled, and was therefore free to go into Parliament.  Others were of opinion that this was the beginning of a new era in literature, of a new order of things, and that from this time forward editors would frequently be found in Parliament, if editors were employed of sufficient influence in the world to find constituencies.  Mr Broune whispered confidentially to Lady Carbury that the man was a fool for his pains, and that he was carried away by pride.  ’Very clever,—­and dashing,’ said Mr Broune, ‘but he never had ballast.’  Lady Carbury shook her head.  She did...