e resolved, however, that his daughter should be
in every way worthy of the old line which culminated in her; she should
be a woman worthy to surrender the ancient name to some exceptional
mortal; she should be worthy to be the wife of some great statesman.

In those years in which Helena Langley was growing up from childhood to
womanhood, Sir Rupert returned to public life. The constituency in which
Queen's Langley was situated was a Tory constituency which had been
represented for nearly half a century by the same old Tory squire. The
Tory squire had a grandson who was as uncompromisingly Radical as the
squire was Tory; naturally he could not succeed, and would not contest
the seat. Sir Rupert came forward, was eagerly accepted, and
successfully returned. His reappearance in the House of Commons after so
considerable an interval made some small excitement in Westminster,
roused some comment in the press. It was fifteen years since he had left
St. Stephen's; he thought curiously of the past as he took his place,
not in that corner seat below the gangway, but on the second bench
behind the Treasury Bench. His Toryism was now of a settled type; the
Government, which had been a little apprehensive of his possible
antagonism, found him a loyal and valuable supporter. He did not remain
long behind the Treasury Bench. An important vacancy occurred in the
Ministry; the post of Foreign Secretary was offered to and accepted by
Sir Rupert. Years ago such a place would have seemed the highest goal of
his ambition. Now he--accepted it. Once again he found himself a
prominent man in the House of Commons, although under very different
conditions from those of his old days.

In the meantime Helena grew in years and health, in beauty, in
knowledge. Sir Rupert, as an infinite believer in the virtues of travel,
took her with him every recess for extended expeditions to Europe, and,
as she grew older, to other continents than Europe. By the time that she
was twenty she knew much of the world from personal experience; she knew
more of politics and political life than many politicians. After she was
seventeen years old she began to make frequent appearances in the
Ladies' Gallery, and to take long walks on the Terrace with her father.
Sir Rupert delighted in her companionship, she in his; they were always
happiest in each other's society. Sir Rupert had every reason to be
proud of the graceful girl who united the beauty of her mother with