.

II

The months that followed that midnight walk were difficult ones. Trent
had his law business to attend to, and endless demands were made upon
his time and strength by political banquets and speechmaking. Bob felt
as if she were primitive woman, tending the pot in the tent, waiting for
her brave to rush in with news of war. Then she laughed at her own
thoughts. A modern New York hotel was a poor substitute for a tent. She
was not even of use as pot-tender, the chef had succeeded to that
profession.

Paul fell into the habit of coming for short breathing spells between
appointments. He reported every move to her and they talked each one
over. Her counsel was often sure and wise. Barbara felt that he
respected her intuitions, if not her judgment.

"May I come in?" he asked one day at her door. "I have half an hour
before I'm due in court, and I thought you might let me have a bite of
lunch here with you, in peace and quiet."

She crossed to the telephone and ordered the luncheon sent up at once.

"You look very tired, Paul. Lie down there and be quiet until the lunch
comes."

He went to her couch and obeyed. His eyes closed.

"Talk to me."

She blushed for some reason, and went to throw a rug across his feet. He
looked up at her smiling.

"How shall I ever catch up with you, Barbara Garratry?"

"Catch up?"

"I make unconscionable demands on your time and patience. I ask myself
what possible right I have to do it, assure myself I have none, and go
right on imposing on you."

"I'm glad to help--if I do. I told you I liked a fight."

"Just at this moment peace seems the only good gift desirable to me."

"Don't talk--rest."

"Your voice rests me."

"All right. Be quiet and I'll talk. I'll tell you the story of a play
I'm going to do. It's called The Governor."

He opened his eyes at that.

"Yes, you suggested it to me, but you're not the hero."

"Let's hear," he said.

She outlined the situation and set the characters up before him. Her
hero was to be a young ardent reform candidate for governor, visioning
big things which he could do with his power of office. The party leaders
let him talk--they winked and said the reform stuff was popular with the
people just now, but when they got him to Albany they'd teach him a new
song. The chief contributor to his campaign fund was to be a corporation
which wanted the governor's veto to a bill infringing their absolutism.
They convinced the young ent