o, engaged in watching the fermentation of the political
vat?"

"Yes, I am most deeply interested; no true lover of his country can fail to
be so at this juncture."

"How long will you be in New York?"

"Since I cannot persuade you to return with me, my stay here will be
shortened. One of our courts meets soon, and though Mr. Campbell will be
there to attend to the cases, I want, if possible, to be present. I shall
return day after to-morrow. And now good night; I will see you early in the
morning."

The door closed behind him, and she remained standing for some time just as
he left her. Slowly the folded hands shrank from each other, and dropped
nerveless to her side; the bright glow in her cheeks, the dash of crimson
on her lips, faded from both; the whole face relaxed into an expression of
hopeless agony.

CHAPTER XX

A CANDIDATE FOR THE LEGISLATURE

"Don't you know that even granite millstones finally grind themselves into
impalpable powder? You give yourself no rest, Aubrey, and human machinery
wears rapidly. Simply for this reason, I sent for you to come and take a
cup of tea with me."

"I have been too much engaged of late to spare an evening to merely social
claims. A man whose life rests at his feet to be lifted to some fitting
pedestal, has little leisure for the luxury of friendly visiting."

The two were in Eric Mitchell's pleasant library. Russell sat in an
arm-chair, and the master of the house reclined on a lounge drawn near the
hearth. The mellow glow of the lamp, the flash and crackle of the fire, the
careless, lazy posture of the invalid, all betokened quiet comfort, save
the dark fixed face, and erect, restless figure of the guest.

"But, Aubrey, you have not asked my opinion of your speech."

"I was not aware that you heard it."

"Of course not, but I read it; and let me tell you, it was a great speech,
a masterly argument, that will make a lasting impression upon the people.
It has greatly changed the vote of this county already."

"You mistake appearances; the seed fell in good soil, but party spirit
came, as fowls of the air, and devoured it."

"At any rate, it produced a profound impression on public opinion, and
startled some of our political patriarchs."

"No, a mere transitory effect; they have folded their arms and gone to
sleep again. I am, of course, gratified by your favourable appreciation of
my effort, but I differ with you as to its result. The surging waves of