uld not. The woman
had spoken the truth. Proud and self-contained as he was, he knew that
nothing would ever satisfy him until he had won her love. And yet how
could he? What chance was there?

"If she comes to Brunford, as you say, Paul, I am going to see her!"
went on his mother. "I shall know if she's worthy of you, and if she
is, you needn't fear, Paul--trust a woman! I'll bring you together
somehow!"

"I have been thinking it over," he replied. "Months agone I made a vow
that I would compel her to love me. People in Brunford say that I'm
the kind of man who gets his way, and I vowed that by sheer strength I
would conquer her, but I know it won't do now! I remember the look in
her eyes when last we met. She's not the kind of woman whose love can
be forced!"

"No woman's love can be forced," replied his mother. "It must always
be won! Still, a lass loves a strong man and despises a weakling.
Trust to me, Paul, trust to me!"

"I'll trust to myself, too," he said grimly. "But you're right,
mother. I want a name to offer her, not only the name I've made, but
the name I've inherited--or ought to inherit--and when I've got that,
neither Ned Wilson nor any other man shall stand in my way!"

A few days later Paul entered the Mechanics' Institute, and, standing
in the entrance hall, he saw a number of men he knew. One of them was
young Wilson. Paul was about to pass into the reading-room, without
speaking, when one of them called to him. "Ay, Stepaside," he said,
"hast a' heard the news?"

"What news?"

"It seems that we may have another election on us," replied the man.

"Another election! What kind of an election?"

"Why, Parliamentary, of course. There are rumours that they are going
to make a judge of Bolitho, and if they do, he'll have to resign his
seat. A judge, you know, is supposed to be non-political. So it seems
as though there'll be another fight. What do you feel about it?"

"I must know if the gossip is true first," replied Paul.

"There's not so much doubt about it," replied the other. "Ned Wilson
here is bound to be in the know. Perhaps," added the man with a laugh,
"Ned'll sign your nomination papers!"

"Or send out a circular without signing it!" said Paul. And everyone
laughed as he spoke, because it was fully known what he meant.

"My dear fellow," retorted Wilson, "what you and your party do is
nothing to me! If there is another election I shall have nothing to d