Elizabeth's Campaign

coming to dine and sleep. Ask Lady Chicksands to look after him in case I am late-and put those Tribunal papers in order for me, by the way. I really must

from his secretary, to whom he had been giving these directions, to see his only daughter hurry

once she began to stroke and pat his horse's neck

ther impatiently. The girl, who was slender a

really going to M

worse

There was anxiety in the girl's voice.

shrugged hi

as I do that he's a queer customer when it

re that the old butler of the house h

quarrel with

ot-for yo

really t

to do it. It's quite certain nobod

isagreed, but she

rried,' she said, in a depres

ught up his father better. Well, go

om the steps-a gentle, attaching figure, her fair hair and the pale

nificent oaks, through a village where his practised eye noted several bad cottages with disapproval, till p

lf with disgust. 'And the farm buildings only fit for a

neighbouring hedge at some fie

I'm in for it!' For he saw a slouching man coming rapidly towards him from the farmyard, with the evident intention of waylaying him. The man's sh

rd with you, sir. I give you fair warning, you and your Committee, you'll not turn me out w

he hand shook. Sir Henry drew his ho

every notice,' sa

s. Can't a man be out on his lawful business, Sir Henry, instead of dancin' attendance on men as know no better than he? The way this Gover

ou have,' said Sir Henry, gathering up the reins, 'for shirking his duty.

to turn me out?' said the man f

notice from Mr.

a w

d from the Inspe

an no

can turn me out, if th

of surly defian

stive. 'My advice to you, Gregson, is to take it quietly, pull yourse

e as I set more store by. I've got a wife and children, sir, and I sh

dded to him

h. But if I can't get Mannering to send the notice, it'll be a deal mor

running down the sloping field, calling to him. Sir Henry pulled up his

eak to me, Adam? A

regson in the road, and I thought perhaps you'd let me have a

fine specimen of young manhood-broad-shouldered, clear-eyed, with

Henry, 'you-one of the best farmers in the district!

o. Gregson's a poor creature, but he hasn't had quite fair play, Sir Henry-that's what we feel. And he's been fifteen years

men like Gregson spoil good land while the country's likely to go hungry! The old happy-go-lu

the war makes slaves of us what

anaged any more than you do. But look at the way I'm managed in my business!-harried up and down by a parcel of you

t the Squire himself? What good have he or his agent ever

handsome face twitching between frowns and smiles, Sir Henry rode on. 'What trade unionists we all are-high

d here and there. Sir Henry looked about him with quick eyes. He understood that the Inspection Sub-Committee, constituted under the Corn Production Act, and on the look-out for grass-land to put under the plough, had recommended the ploughing up of all t

uld ever have believed that we-we should put ourselves to school as we have done? Military service, rations, food-prices, all our busines

hat, swinging towards him. The September sun was westering, and behind the approaching man lay b

and in welcome, and Sir Henry pulled up. The two men, w

he Hall, Sir Henry

escribed hi

ook his head

announced you

precaution. I suppose he

ent there's a distraction. His new secretary arrived some weeks ago, and he now spends

oman? Good heav

Class in Mods, Second in Greats. I've onl

e, or doing munition wo

y exchanged a few words with her, at a very hurried luncheon, at which, by the way, th

the name of the new woman? I su

der. Her name is

des. She used to be a jolly child. But then they go to school and g

urself. Good luck to you!

nd they all fixed on me to bell the cat. We want a hundred acres

wait, on tiptoe, to see what h

treme

e him? Well

's neck-'As you know, perhaps, it would be very inconvenient to my

gaged,' said the Rector cordially. 'Best co

clares he has no m

suppose the new secretary will add fuel to the flame. I saw Pamela for a minute alone, and she said Miss Bremerton wa

on. 'And meanwhile his daughters can't get a penny out o

on brought him in sight of a distant building-low and irregular-s

rebuilt at the worst time, by a man with no more taste than a broomstick.

own brand-new Georgian house, built from the plans of a famous American architect, ten years before the war, out of the profits of an

eedingly unpopular; the people think him a selfish idler; but if he chose he could whistle them back with a hundredth part of the trouble it would take me! And

y on Greek antiquities, which seemed to his neighbours, including Sir Henry Chicksands, a very dubious investment. If Aubrey should want to sell, who was going to buy such things at high prices after the war? No doubt

eerful consciousness of a man who had steadily year by year increased what

might still bring it round. 'But Aubrey's not the man. And since he joined up at the beginning of the war the Squire won't let him have a voice in

and, and the thick woods which surrounded

it with a commercial eye, 'but all past its prime, and abominably negle

shapely but quite substantial figure. She carried a stick, and walked with a peculiarly rapid and certain step. The young girl beside her seemed by comparison a child. She wore a white dress, in keeping with the warm September day, and with it a dark blue sports coat, and a shady

t home again! My word, you've gro

shyness, the quick colour in her cheeks. The lady beside her bowed, and Sir Henry took off his hat. Each surveyed

r ungloved hand caressing the nose of the collie, who was pressing against her with intrusive friendliness. But her easy self-possession as contrasted with Pamela's nervo

t out of her. And it was a very fleeting one when it came. Desmond's name fared a little better. At that the girl d

his Commission and been accepted for the artillery. He go

ss Bremerton with the slightly over-emphatic civility of a man who prides himself on his manners

unknown to her. 'You'll admire our tree

g in the hollow. Sir Henry felt a slight annoyance. He was a good fellow, and no more touchy as to personal dignity than the majority of men

tn't miss your father. When ar

ere?' said the girl

u've got no pe

Nobody's doing a

d note in the s

l in her canteen work?'

n't k

r gate on her way to Fallerton. She c

Pamela. Ther

, and with a ceremonious bow to Pamela's com

Sir Henry, but-wel

see him. Can you find some

ed butler loo

re's two more of our men gone this morning. I d

re, Forest'-Sir Henry dismounted, bridle in hand. 'Don't give the Sq

a wink. At any rate a look of understanding passed between the two. The butler went quickly back into the house, and re-emerged with a boy, who w

gentleman arrived just as Miss Pamela we

is

the village, and comes to see the

house to a large room which had been added to its southern end, in orde

Sir Henry, abou

s Pamela

nuary. He's as pleased as possible, but it

aid Sir Henry gravely. 'And the artillery is a bit safe

e's all r

He was gassed at Ypres a year and a half ago, and had a bullet taken

of shyness or servility, then threw open a door at the e

d a voice l

ssed between him and Forest, amused or interrogative

large tables stood at intervals on the shabby carpet, also laden with books and specimens. They conveyed an impression of dust and disorder, as though no housemaid had been allowed to touch them for weeks-with one exception. A table, smaller than the rest, but arranged with scrupulous neatness, stood at one side of

which their contents had been packed, had been tossed out with a careless or impatient hand, and littered the carpet. Among the litter stood here and there some Greek vases of different sizes; in particular, a superb pair, covered with figures; beside which stood the ow

ibly busy! These things arrived last night, and Mr. Levasseur has kindly come over to

looked as though he were still of military age, doing with nonsense of this sort, at four o'clock in the day, when England wanted every able-bodied man she possessed, either to fight for her or to wo

he Squire abruptly. 'Will you take a chair?' And he

k to you about,' said Sir Henry, with a l

l be bound I shan't want to do! Is th

ical competence written all over him, the Squire of Mannering seemed but the snippet of a man. He was singularly thin, with a slender neck, and a small head covered with thick hair, prematurely white, which tumbled over his forehead and eyes. He had the comple

tone of the Squire's question,

over, you won't think it unreas

d to do anything of the kind.' And the speaker crossed his arms, which were very long

sed a moment b

rge envelope half-way from the inner pocket of his coat to illustrate his words, an

's eyes sh

personal freedom, and other people's, because of a war I don't believe in, never asked for, and don't approve of. Here's Leva

for time. Is the smoking-room free?' And with a marked avoidance of any concern with the gentleman on the floor, who had by n

low, with rather long hair, and the sallow look of the cigarette-sm

in,' he added, turning to the Squire. 'Lovely day-I'll take a book and some cigarettes.' And diving into an open box which stood nea

into a laugh, obs

ilitary age,

,' said Sir H

when the Act passed. So

asseur's affairs.' Sir Henry had flushed angr

ving to the floor for a hat and a book lying beside it, he made off, lighting a

self with an air of resignation into a low arm-chair,

's allowance. Hullo! Who did th

ware of an easel, and on it a charcoal sketch, life-size, of a

re looke

en't you seen it? Yes, it's jolly

sacrifice of all useless detail to one broad and simple effect. Youth, eager, strong, self-confident, with its innocent parted lips, and its steadfast eyes looking out over the future-the drawing stood there as the quintessence, the embodiment, of a whole generation. So might the young Odysse

oat. He had lost his youngest son in the ret

, not very clearly. 'I en

long body hunched up in the deep chair, a

said again, in a voic