dissolution next year, certain. First-rate fun,
fighting a constituency. But in that case I must have a partner
here--why that's an idea. How would it suit you? Why not join me?"

And so the thing came about. The terms which Godfrey offered were so
generous that Will had to reduce them before he accepted: even thus, he
found his income, at a stroke, all but doubled. Sherwood, to be sure,
did not stand for Parliament, nor was anything definite heard about
that sugar-protecting budget which he still believed in. In Little
Ailie Street business steadily declined.

"It's a disgrace to England!" cried Godfrey. "Monstrous that not a
finger should be lifted to save one of our most important industries.
You, of course, are free to retire at any moment, Will. For my own
part, here I stand, come what may. If it's ruin, ruin let it be. I'll
fight to the last. A man owes me ten thousand pounds. When I recover
it, and I may any day--I shall put every penny into the business."

"Ten thousand pounds!" exclaimed Warburton in astonishment. "A trade
debt, do you mean?"

"No, no. A friend of mine, son of a millionaire, who got into
difficulties some time ago, and borrowed of me to clear himself. Good
interest, and principal safe as Consols. In a year at most I shall have
the money back, and every penny shall go into the business."

Will had his private view of the matter, and not seldom suffered a good
deal of uneasiness as he saw the inevitable doom approach. But already
it was too late to withdraw his share from the concern; that would have
been merely to take advantage of Sherwood's generosity, and Will was
himself not less chivalrous. In Godfrey's phrase, they continued "to
fight the ship," and perhaps would have held out to the moment of
sinking, had not the accession of the Liberals to power in the spring
of this present year caused Sherwood so deep a disgust that he turned
despondent and began to talk of surrender to hopeless circumstance.

"It's all up with us, Will. This Government spells ruin, and will count
it one of its chief glories if we come to grief. But, by Heaven, they
shan't have that joy. We'll square up, quietly, comfortably, with
dignity. We'll come out of this fight with arms and baggage. It's still
possible, you know. We'll sell the St. Kitts estate to the Germans.
We'll find some one to buy us up here--the place would suit a brewer.
And then--by Jove! we'll make jam."

"Jam?"

"Isn't it an idea? Cheap sug