uite four months
yet since the poor thing discovered that her doll was stuffed with
sawdust. Really, Patricia!"

Mrs. Roughsedge slowly shook her head.

"I suspect what it all means," said her husband, "is that she did not
show as much interest as she ought in Hugh's performance."

"She was most kind, and asked me endless questions. She made me promise
to bring her the press-cuttings and read her his letters. She could not
possibly have shown more sympathy."

"H'm!--well, I give it up."

"Henry!"--his wife turned upon him--"I am convinced that poor child will
never marry!"

"Give her time, my dear, and don't talk nonsense!"

"It isn't nonsense! I tell you I felt just as I did when I went to see
Mary Theed, years ago--you remember that pretty cousin of mine who
became a Carmelite nun?--for the first time after she had taken the
veil. She spoke to one from another world--it gave one the shivers!--and
was just as smiling and cheerful over it as Diana--and it was just as
ghastly and unbearable and abominable--as this is."

"Well, then," said the doctor, after a pause, "I suppose she'll take to
good works. I hope you can provide her with a lot of hopeless cases in
the village. Did she mention Marsham at all?"

"Not exactly. But she asked about the election--"

"The writs are out," interrupted the doctor. "I see the first borough
elections are fixed for three weeks hence; ours will be one of the last
of the counties; six weeks to-day."

"I told her you thought he would get in."

"Yes--by the skin of his teeth. All his real popularity has vanished
like smoke. But there's the big estate--and his mother's money--and the
collieries."

"The Vicar tells me the colliers are discontented--all through the
district--and there may be a big strike--"

"Yes, perhaps in the autumn, when the three years' agreement comes to an
end--not yet. Marsham's vote will run down heavily in the mining
villages, but it'll serve--this time. They won't put the other man in."

Mrs. Roughsedge rose to take off her things, remarking, as she moved
away, that Marsham was said to be holding meetings nightly already, and
that Lady Lucy and Miss Drake were both hard at work.

"Miss Drake?" said the doctor, looking up. "Handsome girl! I saw Marsham
in a dog-cart with her yesterday afternoon."

Mrs. Roughsedge flushed an angry red, but she said nothing. She was
encumbered with parcels, and her husband rose to open the door for her.
He stooped