had
little importance because it did. The grumblers fell into line almost
as soon as Horace Williams said they would; a little oil, one small
appointment wrung from the Ontario Government--Fawkes, I believe,
got it--and the machine was again in good working order. Lorne even
profited, in the opinion of many, by the fact of his youth, with its
promise of energy and initiative, since Mr Farquharson had lately been
showing the defects as well as the qualities of age and experience, and
the charge of servile timidity was already in the mouths of his critics.

The agricultural community took it, as usual, with phlegm; but there was
a distinct tendency in the bar at Barker's, on market-days, to lay money
on the colt.

CHAPTER XXIV

Mr Farquharson was to retain his seat until the early spring, for the
double purpose of maintaining his influence upon an important commission
of which he was chairman until the work should be done, and of giving
the imperial departure championed by his successor as good a chance as
possible of becoming understood in the constituency. It was understood
that the new writ would issue for a date in March; Elgin referred all
interest to that point, and prophesied for itself a lively winter.
Another event, of importance less general, was arranged for the end of
February--the arrival of Miss Cameron and Mrs Kilbannon from Scotland.
Finlay had proposed an earlier date, but matters of business connected
with her mother's estate would delay Miss Cameron's departure. Her
arrival would be the decisive point of another campaign. He and Advena
faced it without misgiving, but there were moments when Finlay greatly
wished the moment past.

Their intimacy had never been conspicuous, and their determination to
make no change in it could be carried out without attracting attention.
It was very dear to them, that determination. They saw it as a test, as
an ideal. Last of all, perhaps, as an alleviation. They were both too
much encumbered with ideas to move simply, quickly, on the impulse
of passion. They looked at it through the wrong end of the glass, and
thought they put it farther away. They believed that their relation
comprised, would always comprise, the best of life. It was matter for
discussion singularly attractive; they allowed themselves upon it wide
scope in theory. They could speak of it in the heroic temper, without
sadness or bitterness; the thing was to tear away the veil and look fate
in t