his sister. His outpourings consisted of enthusiastic praises of both
father and daughter.

"By Jove!" he said, "it's simply--you know, Al--simply fetching to see
them together. He's a splendid chap--not an ounce of side or nonsense
about him. And she's awfully pretty. Don't you think she's awfully
pretty, Al?"

"I only saw her for a moment, dear."

"It's too bad of Mary to go on as she does. She simply ignores Miss
Medland."

"Miss Medland's still very young, Dick. Is he--how does he treat her?"

"I don't know. It's almost funny--they're always jumping up to get one
another things, don't you know!" answered Dick, whose feelings outran
his powers of elegant description.

"Do you go there much, Dick?"

"Now, Al, don't try to do Mary to me."

Alicia laughed.

"I think Mary will 'do' as much 'Mary' to you as you want, if you don't
take care, you foolish boy. But, Dick, tell me. How do Willie and Mr.
Medland get on?"

"Oh, pretty well, but-- You won't tell?"

Alicia promised secrecy, and Dick, conscious of criminality, lowered his
voice and continued,

"I believe there's a row on in the Cabinet already. Willie said Puttock
and Jewell were at loggerheads with Norburn, and Medland was inclined
to back Norburn."

"And Mr. Coxon?"

"He's supposed to be lying low. And then I was down at the club and met
old Oakapple there, and he told me that Kilshaw had boasted of having
done a deal with Puttock."

"What did he mean?"

"Why, that he and his gang--the rich capitalists, you know--were to back
up old Puttock's temperance measures, provided Puttock (and Jewell, if
Puttock could nobble him) prevented Medland from bringing in--what the
deuce was it?--some Socialistic labour legislation or other--I forget
what. Anyhow the Chief Justice thought Perry would be back soon."

"What? That Mr. Medland would be turned out? What a shame! He hasn't had
a fair chance, has he?"

The gossip which Dick had picked up was not very wide of the mark. It
was perhaps too early to talk of absolute dissensions, but it was
tolerably well known that a struggle was likely to occur in the Cabinet,
nominally on the question of the relative priority to be given to
different measures, more truly perhaps on the issue whether the advanced
labour party, represented by Norburn, or the Radicals of the older type,
headed by Puttock and Jewell, were to control the policy of the Premier
and the Government. The latter section was inextricably conn