had perished under the bad weather of
human weakness, prejudice and jealousy. But she was young, and hope her
rightful heritage. The blessed word 'reconstruction' seemed to her as
musical as a ring of bells.

"There are some things you never will be able to express in political
terms, and life is one of them," Ernest Churchouse had assured her; but
she was not convinced of it. She still reverenced politics and looked to
it to play husbandman, triumph over party and presently shine out, like
a universal sun, whose sole warmth was good will to man.

And as she felt personally to Raymond's work, so did she want the world
of women to feel to all men's work. She would not have them claim their
rights in the argument of parity of intellect, for that she felt to be
vain. It was by the virtue of disparity that their equality should
appear. Their virtue and essential aid depended on the difference. The
world wanted women, not to do what men had done, but to bring to the
task the special qualities and distinctive genius of womanhood to
complement and crown the labour of manhood. The mighty structure was
growing; but it would never be finished without the saving grace of
woman's thought and the touch of woman's hand. The world's work needed
them--not for the qualities they shared with men, but for the qualities
men lacked and they possessed. If Raymond represented the masculine
worker, she hoped that she might presently stand in the ranks of the
women, and doubted not that great women would arise to lead her.

She remembered that the Roman element of humanity was described as
representing the male spirit, while the Greek stood for the female; and
she could easily dream a blend of the two destined to produce a spirit
greater than either. Love quickened her visions and added the glow of
life to her hopes.

So together she and her future husband prepared for their wedded days,
and if ever a man and woman faced the future with steadfast
determination to do justly and serve their kind with the best of their
united powers, this man and woman did.

They were to be married after the election, and that would take place
early in the coming year.

CHAPTER XXI

ATROPOS

Ironsyde for once found himself part of a machine, and by no means the
most important part. He fought the election resolutely and spared no
energy. The attraction of the contest grew upon him, and since he
contended against a personal acquaintance, one who ra