ng of the company, to be held now
in some ten days, promised a storm. Wharton discovered, partly to his
own amazement, for he was a man who quickly forgot, that during his
directorate he had devised or sanctioned matters that were not at all
likely to commend themselves to the shareholders, supposing the past
were really sifted. The ill-luck of it was truly stupendous; for on the
whole he had kept himself financially very clean since he had become a
member; having all through a jealous eye to his political success.

* * * * *

As to the political situation, nothing could be at once more promising
or more anxious!

An important meeting of the whole Labour group had been fixed for August
10, by which time it was expected that a great measure concerning Labour
would be returned from the House of Lords with highly disputable
amendments. The last six weeks of the session would be in many ways more
critical for Labour than its earlier months had been; and it would be
proposed by Bennett, at the meeting on the 10th, to appoint a general
chairman of the party, in view of a campaign which would fill the
remainder of the session and strenuously occupy the recess.

That Bennett would propose the name of the member for West Brookshire
was perfectly well known to Wharton and his friends. That the nomination
would meet with the warmest hostility from Wilkins and a small group of
followers was also accurately forecast.

To this day, then, Wharton looked forward as to the crisis of his
parliamentary fortunes. All his chances, financial or social, must now
be calculated with reference to it. Every power, whether of combat or
finesse, that he commanded must be brought to bear upon the issue.

What was, however, most remarkable in the man and the situation at the
moment was that, through all these gathering necessities, he was by no
means continuously anxious or troubled in his mind. During these days of
July he gave himself, indeed, whenever he could, to a fatalist oblivion
of the annoyances of life, coupled with a passionate pursuit of all
those interests where his chances were still good and the omens still
with him.

Especially--during the intervals of ambition, intrigue, journalism, and
unsuccessful attempts to raise money--had he meditated the beauty of
Marcella Boyce and the chances and difficulties of his relation to her.
As he saw her less, he thought of her more, instinctively looking to her