t did you tell him?'

'That I should resist their entry. The gates of the park will be
locked. And my lawyers are already preparing a case for the High
Court. Well--eh!--what?'--the speaker wound up impatiently, as
though waiting for an immediate and applauding response.

Elizabeth was silent. She bent over the Greek book in front of her,
as though looking for her place.

'You didn't think I was going to take it lying down!' asked the
Squire, in a raised voice. Her silence suggested to him afresh all
the odious and tyrannical forces by which he felt himself
surrounded.

Elizabeth turned to him with a cheerful countenance.

'I don't quite understand what "it" means,' she said politely.

'Nonsense, you do!' was the angry reply. 'That's so like a woman.
They always want to catch you out; they never see things simply and
broadly. You'd like to make yourself out a fool--[Greek: nepia]--and
you're not a fool!'

And with his hands in his pockets he made two or three long strides
up to the Nike, at the further end of the room, and back, pulling up
beside her again, as though challenging her reply.

'I assure you, sir, I wasn't trying to catch you out,' Elizabeth
began in her gentlest voice.

'Don't call me "sir." I won't have it!' cried the Squire, almost
stamping.

Then Elizabeth laughed outright.

'I'm sorry, but when I was working in the War Trade Department I
always called the head of my room "sir."'

'That's because women _like_ kow-towing--[Greek: doulosunen
anechesthai]!' said the Squire. Then he threw himself into a chair.
'Now let's talk sense a little.'

Elizabeth's attentive look, and lips quivering with amusement which
she tried in vain to suppress, and he was determined not to see,
showed her more than willing.

'I suppose you think--like that fellow I've just routed--that it's
a uestion of food production. It isn't! It's a question of
_liberty_--_versus_ bondage. If we can only survive as slaves, then
wipe us out! That's my view.'

'Wasn't there a bishop once who said he would rather have England
free than sober?' asked Elizabeth.

'And a very sensible man,' growled the Squire, 'though in general
I've no use for bishops. Now you understand, I hope? This is going
to be a test case. I'll make England ring.'

'Are you sure they can't settle it at once, under the Defence of the
Realm Act?'

'Not they!' said the Squire triumphantly. 'Of course, I'm not
putting up a frontal defence. I'm outflan