und election
time and oiling it for a smooth run. And such rumors aroused thoughts
which Phil had been very loath to entertain.

After all, though, did he really know his uncle? Between them there
had never been any very close bond of sympathy--such, for instance, as
always had existed between Phil and his aunt. His uncle's share in the
growing lad's up-bringing had been of the superficial sort--a pat on
the back, a "run along now, my boy; I'm busy." Always it had been Aunt
Dolly to whom he had taken his childish difficulties for sympathetic
adjustment. It had been that way from the first when the sudden loss
of both father and mother had thrown him upon Aunt Dolly's care. His
own mother could not have meant more to him and Kendrick's smile was
very gentle as he thought of his aunt. First and last, her
happiness----

Ah, but was she happy? That was the question. She pretended to be, of
course; but how much of it was mere pretence? Beneath her smiles Phil
had sensed of late a vague unrest, disappointment--he hardly knew what
to call it, so illusive it was. She had laughed at him fondly and
called him "a foolish boy" when he had ventured to ask her if anything
was wrong. After that she had been careful that he did not surprise
any look upon her face but one of cheerfulness.

The possibility that in some way his uncle was the source of that
subtle change in Aunt Dolly had disturbed Phil's peace of mind not a
little. In his presence she had been the same gentle, smiling,
thoughtful Aunt Dolly that she had always been; but once or twice he
had read fleeting anxiety in the glance with which she had followed her
husband's departure from the room. Her love for the Honorable Milton
was unqualified, Phil knew. It was, in fact, the directing force of
Aunt Dolly's whole life. It had enabled her to overcome her innate
dislike for the everlasting round of social trivialities and assume her
place as a society leader with a brilliance and tact which had earned
the commendation of even her exacting husband. What was going wrong in
the Waring household? Or was it all imagination and Aunt Dolly's look
of concern sum-totalled by the weather in relation to a change to
lighter flannels?

Certainly when it came to considering his uncle's political record
there was always the Rives case to fall back upon, to cast a halo about
the Honorable Milton's head. The Rives case had provided a sensational
aftermath to a strenuous