An American Politician by F. Marion Crawford

Sybil was right when she said the family politics at the Wyndhams' were disturbed. Indeed the disturbance was so great that Mrs. Wyndham was dressed and down-stairs before twelve o'clock, which had never before occurred in the memory of the oldest servant.

"It is too perfectly exciting, my dears," she exclaimed as Joe and Sybil entered the room, followed -- at a respectful distance by Ronald. "I can't stand it one minute longer! How do you do, Mr. Surbiton?"