se or stopping his pocket-money, that would
be carrying the joke further than I could do it. Indeed it seemed to
me that he was peculiarly happy at this time, for he did not go to
his office. He spent his mornings in making speeches, and then went
down in the afternoon on his bicycle to Little Christchurch.

So the time passed on, and the day absolutely came on which
Crasweller was to be deposited. I had seen him constantly during the
last few weeks, but he had not spoken to me on the subject. He had
said that he would not leave Little Christchurch, and he did not do
so. I do not think that he had been outside his own grounds once
during these six weeks. He was always courteous to me, and would
offer me tea and toast when I came, with a stately civility, as
though there had been no subject of burning discord between us. Eva I
rarely saw. That she was there I was aware,--but she never came into
my presence till the evening before the appointed day, as I shall
presently have to tell. Once or twice I did endeavour to lead him
on to the subject; but he showed a disinclination to discuss it so
invincible, that I was silenced. As I left him on the day before that
on which he was to be deposited, I assured him that I would call for
him on the morrow.

"Do not trouble yourself," he said, repeating the words twice over.
"It will be just the same whether you are here or not." Then I shook
my head by way of showing him that I would come, and I took my leave.

I must explain that during these last few weeks things had not gone
quietly in Gladstonopolis, but there had been nothing like a serious
riot. I was glad to find that, in spite of Jack's speechifying,
the younger part of the population was still true to me, and I did
not doubt that I should still have got the majority of votes in
the Assembly. A rumour was spread abroad that the twelve months of
Crasweller's period of probation were to be devoted to discussing the
question, and I was told that my theory as to the Fixed Period would
not in truth have been carried out merely because Mr Crasweller had
changed his residence from Little Christchurch to the college. I had
ordered an open barouche to be prepared for the occasion, and had got
a pair of splendid horses fit for a triumphal march. With these I
intended to call at Little Christchurch at noon, and to accompany Mr
Crasweller up to the college, sitting on his left hand. On all other
occasions, the President of the Republ