e was a far-away look in her eyes.

On the afternoon of the meeting Paul was at the railway station when
the train from Manchester came in, and as he watched the passengers
alight his heart throbbed violently, for, descending from the train, he
saw not only Mr. Bolitho, but Mary, accompanied by a young fellow who,
he judged, would be the Honourable Stephen Boston.

"Oh, Stepaside," said Mr. Bolitho, going up to him with outstretched
hand, as though nothing but pleasantries had ever passed between them,
"I'm glad to see you. Of course, you know what's happened?"

"Yes," said Paul. "I suppose I ought to congratulate you!" The words
were curtly spoken, and Bolitho was not slow to recognise his tone's,
but he decided to take no notice of it.

"I hear you're to be the candidate on the other side again," he went
on. "Allow me to introduce to you your opponent. I am sure you'll
have a good, honest, straight fight!"

"I hope so," said Paul quietly, at the same time holding out his hand
to Mr. Boston.

"We shall not fight on equal terms, I am afraid," said the young man
with a laugh; "that is"--and he corrected himself--"I shall be
altogether at a disadvantage. You know these people, and I don't. I
am afraid, too, that many of them regard the land-owning class with
disfavour; still I'll put up the best fight I'm able, and I am sure we
shall have a jolly good time! I am glad to meet you, Mr. Stepaside,
and I hope, whatever the result of the election is, we shall part good
friends."

"It shall not be my fault if we do not," said Paul heartily. "But I
warn you that I'm going to beat you!" And he laughed almost merrily.

"Well, you know what Randolph Churchill used to say about an Englishman
who could not stand a licking!" laughed the other. "And if I'm licked
I hope I shall take it in good part. But I don't mean to be. I am
trying to persuade Miss Bolitho here to canvass for me as she did for
her father!"

"And will you?" asked Paul, turning towards her.

"Would you be very angry with me if I did?" she asked laughingly.

"No," said Paul. "But I'd give a great deal to have you on my side!"

"If you had," said Boston pleasantly, "I should stand no chance at all.
But if she works for me she will more than counterbalance the fact that
I am a stranger to the town. Well, we must be going, Bolitho. Of
course, Wilson is not expecting us by this train, or no doubt he would
have been here to meet us. But as I h