two women looked at one another long and steadily and a flush rose into
Mrs Ingram's cheeks.

"I think," she said quietly, "I must reckon Lilith among my successes.
Mr Lowther, may I tell you how proud my husband and I feel to number
you among our guests to-night? Ordinary people who can only stand by
and watch feel a profound gratitude to workers like yourself, who are
types of all that is honourable and disinterested. England owes you a
great debt to-day."

Every man present joined in a murmur of assent, for though political
opinions differed, one and all acknowledged the singleness of Lowther's
aim. Across one or two minds flitted a remembrance of the tragic
eclipse which had marked the statesman's early career, but in each case
the remembrance brought with it an increased admiration. Not one man in
a thousand would have had the power to climb out of so deep a ditch!

And now, one by one, the nine histories had been discussed, and the
company instinctively drew their chairs nearer the fire, watching with
questioning eagerness the eloquent face of the woman whose words had had
so large a bearing on their lives. Here she was, an old woman now, worn
to the point of breaking, yet vital, as ever, with the flame of an
encompassing sympathy.

"Ah, dear people," she sighed, "dear people, it is so good to meet you
again! I am so grateful to you for coming. The remembrance of this
night will be company for me during many quiet days. I shall have much
to think over, but at present I am conscious only of one thing--that my
prophecy is true, is almost _terribly_ true! We are only faintly
beginning to understand the real power of steady, concentrated will.
The thing that a man aims for, with a strong, single, undeviating aim,
that thing, sooner or later, _a man can have_! So much is certain, but
I blame myself for not insisting more upon the initial question. _Is it
worth while_? Oh, dear people, so often our ambitions are _not_ worth
while. An aim which is to ride dominant over every call, an aim for
which all hindrances are to be cast aside, must needs have a spiritual
nature, if it is to satisfy a spiritual being. In the days to come,
teach your children the importance of this great decision; teach them
their power, but be sure, be very sure, to teach them to think long and
earnestly, lest in their blindness they choose the dross, and go
starving all their days!"

John Malham leaned back in his chair, so that