ting our Nation by
working for old fashioned despotism in disguise; sacrificing the many
to the few."

"Oh, does Mrs. Williams say that?" asked Moyese reflectively, pushing
back from the desk and clasping his hands round one knee. "That may
be; republicanism doesn't necessarily mean letting the blockheads rule!
It may mean giving equal opportunity for the fit men to come to the top
and rule. Did you come in to talk over these things with me, Miss
Eleanor? I must make a convert of you; it would win over Wayland and
Williams and your father."

"No, I didn't. I came in here by mistake. The operator told me I'd
find a public telephone across the road; and I wasn't noticing where I
was going, and I came in here; but all the way down, I had been
thinking of you, Senator Moyese. I kept thinking if you could only be
made to see the New Day that is dawning, perhaps you would meet it half
way. I rode in the driver's seat coming down; and he told me how he
lost his arm; Senator, think of the hero in him?"

"And you thought there might be some of the hero in me, too?" Moyese
laughed, the noiseless genial laugh creasing his chin and his white
vest.

"While you laugh, you are letting your rose wither."

He handed the rose to her. "Yes, I know that fellow. I was in the
Kootenay when he lost his arm, torn out all bloody right from the
shoulder socket; had to pry the cogs up to get him out. They collected
a purse of a thousand for him; but he wouldn't take a cent: handed it
over to the hospital. Something in that fellow bigger than self kind
of popped out and surprised himself."

She noticed him looking at the wall clock as he talked, but not being a
business woman did not know what that meant.

"There's something bigger than self with us all, Senator; and we have
to work for it."

"My dear child, do you think you need to tell an old stager that?" He
was kicking the creases out of his trousers. This time, she could not
mistake the signal, and felt her womanish idealism of mining for the
hidden vein of heroism both childish and cheapening. She rose and
placed the flower back on the desk.

"There's something bigger than you or me, my dear," he went on,
"something for which every man worth his salt must work and fight, and
which a woman does not understand."

"And that is?"

"His party," said Moyese.

"But Senator, there is something bigger than party, and if a man works
against That, he'll injure his party.