dreams. The eyes were dark
and piercing, the features were almost classical. No, this was not the
man who had robbed his mother of her youth and of her beauty. After
this he took only an academical interest in the proceedings. He still
remained interested in the case, but only as a case; and the man Graham
was only a name to him. This fact altered his outlook for a time.
Hitherto he had fancied he knew where he might find the man whom he
called his enemy, but now he did not know; and, as a consequence,
everything became different. Not that he troubled much. He never
meant to try to do anything until he was ready. Somehow he knew that
when he set himself to struggle against the man he hated, the battle
would be long and hard; therefore he must be prepared; and he was not
ready yet--he had only just begun. That was why he did not trouble to
find him. When the time came he would surely have no difficulty in
discovering his whereabouts. Still, the visit to Manchester was not
without its effects. He saw a new vision of life, and that vision made
him discontented with being a mere operative. He would not, in the
future, be one who was led--he would be a leader.

When he returned to Brunford, therefore, he worked harder than ever.
He took classes at the Mechanics' Institute, and spent all his spare
time in study. By the time he was twenty Paul Stepaside could have
matriculated at the London University; but he never thought of doing
so. After all, what was passing examinations? It was a mere knowledge
of certain specified subjects, and he felt that these would not enable
him to perform the great work which he had set himself to do.

Paul was naturally greatly influenced by the life of the town in which
he lived. Brunford was a huge manufacturing centre, and was typical of
its class. The minds of the people were keenly alive, especially to
those questions which, as they believed, affected their welfare. All
sorts of socialistic schemes were discussed eagerly, and before long
Paul was keenly interested in them. He found that the town was a very
Mecca of revolutionary thoughts concerning the accepted order of
things. There were many who were of the "down-with-everything" order.
They did not believe in kings or governments, and although their
anarchism was of a mild order, there were some who proclaimed it with
such enthusiasm that Paul for a time was influenced by it. Others
there were who did not believe i