l these farmers that I am nursing? What if
my beneficent virus works too quickly--before I can represent them? Some
other fellow reaps the benefit; and when my turn comes, likely as not
there will be a reaction. I've to keep and increase my hold on these men
of every nationality under the sun, as well as upon the seasoned old
Americans, lest they should break away from me. Nice job I've cut out."
He hesitated a moment, but added: "Beastly idea to subject all to the
same law. It should be ten years for immigrants, and one for the
man-of-the-world anxious to take the oath of allegiance--not that I am
frantic to take it."

"I never knew any one so keen for obstacles; and now that you have found
more than you bargained for--"

"It's not the obstacles that daunt me. If I were only sure of
accomplishing any result worth while, if I had the materials to work
on--if I were sure I cared! The American is an unhatched Englishman, but
he won't be hatched out in my time----I even long for the close compact
drama of English life. Everything is spread over such a vast loose
surface here. These four years through which I may--must stumble along
with my hands tied, are a fair example. And it seems to me that I never
go to bed without seeing a face on the dark trying to enunciate: 'What
for?' 'Why?'"

He sat down suddenly on a chair in front of her and took his head in his
hands. "Do you ever ask yourself those questions?" he demanded,
abruptly.

Isabel nodded. He noted absently that she looked like an elf with her
face half-hidden by her hair, and that he could see but one little black
mole, but a narrow ring of blue about the dilated pupils of her eyes,
the tiny dimple at the corner of her mouth. She wore a loose blue
wrapper, and the wood fire leaped in high flames behind her. The storm
was terrific. He suddenly realized that this was the only homelike room
he knew outside of England. He felt as if nothing would ever give him
peace again, but he was suddenly and overwhelmingly glad to be
there--and comfortably alone with Isabel on this raging night. He stared
at her until his own pupils dilated, but she replied more tranquilly
than she felt.

"_Cui bono_ is the motto on Earth's coat of arms. The only thing that
saves us is that we don't see it all the time. There are long intervals
in which we eat and sleep and dance and love and play at politics and
enjoy the storm--and our best companions."

"We certainly are not here to spe