Elizabeth's Campaign

his bolt, looked anxiou

in black, with the brilliant head and hands, had in some way gathered into itself the significance of the library. All the background of books, with its pale and yet rich harmony of tone, the glass cases with their bronzes and terra-cottas, the statues, the papers on the table, the few flowers that were never wanting to Elizabeth's corner, the taste with which the furniture had been re-arr

him, with eyes that seemed to have been w

aid Elizabeth. 'You hav

Perley believes the Committee will bring

stop them from plo

offered them

eth he

what the Government

do the

have food enough to hold out? That we can't win

The Squire sat down at his own t

e time over this tiresome business. I've already lost the morn

dow near her table, and looked out of it, as though reflecting. After a minute or two he as

and came half across

o you, please,

. Is there an

either side. I should be glad if you woul

iolently, and thr

u have been cogita

dly. 'I have made a complete lis

ted to h

anning this move-you were mak

hesi

t would have to be do

astic. 'I should like to know in what I have failed to satisf

,' she crossed her hands quietly in front of her, 'you put responsibili

ou liked res

eth co

and opinions-are so different from yours that, if we go further,

ever giving up you

ead with decision. 'No! tha

k. They confronted each other. Elizabeth began to

little, or the Squire fancied it-'what you have taught me even in this short time. I am proud to have been your secretary-and your pupil. If it were only that'-she paused-'but you have also been so kind as to-to take

an impetuous

e atmosphere of th

atching her with eyes in which he tried-n

reas

ithout signs of agitation; 'and you seem

er unwelcome to the

entirely different

head slightly, with

re in peace-that you may talk to me about Greek poetry, and put spokes in the wheels of those who are trying to feed us-and defend us-and beat off Germany. Nothing for the wounded!-nothing for the hospitals! And you won't let Pamela do anything! Not a farthing for the Red Cross! You made me write a letter last week refusing a subscription. And then, when they only ask you to let your land grow food-that the German pirates

omewhat mingled with that of the great Victory towering behind her, and went quickl

tried to la

with a sneer, 'because

was conscious of min

at last, coldly. 'You don't propose, I i

ver her table, an

will stay

nished what she was doing, and taking up her note-bo

g hands into his pockets he began to pace the library, in the kind

direct pressure from a woman, whom he couldn't wrestle with and floor, as he would a man, because of her sex. That was always the way with women. No real equality-no give and take-in spite of all the suffrage talk. Their weakness was their tyranny. Weakness

me!-and my

ply-poor idiot!-'How can wo

!'-δεινον το πληθο?-as she and her women turn upon the Thra

ay of living! The moral pressure of it was so iniquitous! Yo

ld chaos and helplessness-how still more odious! As to the war-so like a woman to suppose that any war was ever fought with unanimity by any country

Intelligence, accuracy, the clearest of scripts! All his hints taken-and bettered in the taking. Beside it lay some slovenly manuscripts of Levasseur's. He could see the corners of Miss Bremerton's mouth go up

a knock at the library door. Before he could say 'Come in,' it was hurriedly

sden, 'you must please let

ntempt than affection-looked merely frightened; but Margaret's eyes were

you want

that the village is up in arms. The labourers declare that if the County plough is turned back to-

ch a thing!' said Margaret in her intensest voice. 'Do, father, let

they wanted. It was a demonstration-a protest-a case to go to the Courts on. He had principles-if no one else had. And if they weren't

excitedly, and

to prison. Some tiresome old Judge will give you a talking-to in Court, and you won't be able to answer him back.

do you mean?' said

n't you feel it

Strang, in that manner of controlled emotion which the Squire

he seized his hat and went out into the park to see if the populace were really rising. It was a cold October evening, with a waxing moon, and a wind that was rapidly bringing the dead leaves to earth. Not a sou

is diggings, his friendships with foreign scholars. Well, then, as far as he could he would take no account of it, would shut it out, and rail at the men and the forces that made it. He barely looked at the newspapers; he never touched a book dealing with the war. It seemed to him a triumph of mind and i

error of what the war might do with him, if he were forced to feel it-to let i

was that of a man, once a farmer of his, and a decent fellow-oh, that he confessed!-with whom he had had a long

he Squire's law-costs had long since swa

e squabble, had quietly made a suggestion-had asked leave to write a letter on approval

ays have been. I will get my solicitor to put what you proposed in your letter of this morning into shape immediately

th! How many more the same patient hand might have dealt with, i

always, at any hour of the day or year, a moment of pleasure to the Squire. Here was shelter, here was escape-both from the troubles he had brought upon himself, and from the world tumult outside, the work of crazy politicians and incompetent diplomats. But if there was any seas

exclusive temper of the artist. It was his own temper-though he was no practising artist-and accounted largely for his actions. What are politics-or social reform-or religion-or morals-compared to art? The true artist, it has been

shed through long years, and flying out on the smallest occasions-the Squire conveniently forgot them, in those rare moments of self-vision which were all the

ce of her figure from the table on the further side of the room worked upon his nerves. She had promised at

. 'The Lemnian fire'-where on earth was the passage? He lifted his head instinctively. If only she had been there-it was monstrous that she wa

complished scarcely anything, and a settled gloom descended upon him. That was the worst of accustoming yourself to crut

ters were answers to some he had allowed his secretary to draft and send in his name-generally in

d of thing! She would keep to the letter of her bargain, for the few

ecome mole-hills. In this new phase he felt himself more helpless than ever to deal with them. She, on the contrary, might have put everything straight-she might

n a matter of public action. She must have everythi

at a cup of tea should be brought him to the library.

I shall be glad of her company

t hes

r, Miss Brem

Her own mist

la here at once

irl's quick step was h

, fa

ng in front of the fire, angrily erect. He had d

go to tea at the Rectory, and I've just got a note from Mrs. Penningto

arrangement,' said t

e she wanted a little break. She's been looking dead-t

Pamela departed, virtuously conscious of havin

away. The Squire thought them interminable. Dinner was a gloomy and embarrassed function. His daughters were afraid of rousing a fresh whirlwind of temper, if the gates were mentioned; and nothing else

ver the fire smoking, or turning over the pages of a fresh section of th

re than enough to rasp the nerves of any ordinary man-and as far as nerves were concerned, he knew very well that he was not an ordinary man; that, in short, he was impoverished and embarrassed; his agent was a scandal and must be dismissed, and his new lawyers, a grasping, incompetent crew. For a moment, indeed, he had had a glimpse of a clear sky. A woman, who seemed to have the same

raining are now as thick as blackberries-might have helped him to put his affairs straight; but she would not have been a Miss Bremerton, with her scholarship, her taste, her love of the beautiful thin

onfessed her comradeship, her friendship, had begun to mean a good deal to him. For twenty years he had lived in loneliness. Now, it seemed, h

all over! Better ma

ll, the moon and stars scarcely visible. He hoped they would have at least the sense a

the window, and resumed his pacing. Presently he thought he heard the hous

go and say good-night to his daughters,

in lighting their candles at the Chippendale table, where for about a hundred a

had returned safely. 'Oh yes,' said his daughter Margaret, 'but

s' black books. Was he also charged with Miss Bremerton's headache? Did any of them guess what had happened?

, in her room upstairs, heard first the library bell, then the steps of Forest crossing the ha

misty morning, between darkness and dawn, and trees standing on the grass in dim robes of amethyst and gold. Two men in the middle distance were going away from the house. She craned her neck. Yes-no doubt of it! The

h thought. What was she going to do now? The world seemed emptily