It is told of Mrs. Gladstone that a number of ladies in her drawing-room
once became engaged in earnest discussion of a difficult problem. It
chanced that at the time the great prime minister was in his study
upstairs. As the argument in the drawing-room became hopelessly
involved, a devout lady of the company took advantage of a lull to say:
"Ah, well, there is One above Who knows it all."
Mrs. Gladstone beamed.
"Yes," she said proudly. "And William will be down directly to tell us
all about it."