gh
the last thing in the world she could tolerate were really fat cheeks,
those signs of all that her stoicism abhorred, those truly unforgivable
marks of the loss of 'form.' He struck her as dreadfully silent, too,
and she would rack her brains for subjects that would interest him, often
saying to herself: 'If only I were clever!' It was natural he should
think of dear Nedda, but surely it was not that which gave him the little
line. He must be brooding about those other things. He ought not to be
melancholy like this and let anything prevent the sea from doing him
good. The habit--hard-learned by the old, and especially the old of her
particular sex--of not wishing for the moon, or at all events of not
letting others know that you are wishing for it, had long enabled Frances
Freeland to talk cheerfully on the most indifferent subjects whether or
no her heart were aching. One's heart often did ache, of course, but it
simply didn't do to let it interfere, making things uncomfortable for
others. And once she said to him: "You know, darling, I think it would
be so nice for you to take a little interest in politics. They're very
absorbing when you once get into them. I find my paper most enthralling.
And it really has very good principles."

"If politics did anything for those who most need things done,
Granny--but I can't see that they do."

She thought a little, then, making firm her lips, said:

"I don't think that's quite just, darling, there are a great many
politicians who are very much looked up to--all the bishops, for
instance, and others whom nobody could suspect of self-seeking."

"I didn't mean that politicians were self-seeking, Granny; I meant that
they're comfortable people, and the things that interest them are those
that interest comfortable people. What have they done for the laborers,
for instance?"

"Oh, but, darling! they're going to do a great deal. In my paper they're
continually saying that."

"Do you believe it?"

"I'm sure they wouldn't say so if they weren't. There's quite a new
plan, and it sounds most sensible. And so I don't think, darling, that
if I were you I should make myself unhappy about all that kind of thing.
They must know best. They're all so much older than you. And you're
getting quite a little line between your eyes."

Derek smiled.

"All right, Granny; I shall have a big one soon."

Frances Freeland smiled, too, but shook her head.

"Yes; and that's w