man who was my mother--has made me
sympathize with you all the more. But to express that sympathy in any
way you must give me time. I said you had played hell with my life.
It's true. One of these days I may be able to explain. Not now. There's
no time. We're caught up in the wheels of an inexorable political
machine. I address my party in the constituency to-night." It was a
cold intelligence that spoke, and once more Jane flashed a
half-frightened glance at him. "What I shall say to them, in view of
all this, I don't quite know. I must have half an hour to think."

"I know I oughtn't to interfere, Paul," said Jane, "but you mustn't
blame Mr. Finn too much. Although he differs from you in politics and
so on, he loves you and is proud of you--as we all are--and looks
forward to your great career--I know it only too well. And now he has
this deep conviction that he has a call from on High to ruin your
career at the very beginning. Do understand, Paul, that he feels
himself in a very terrible position."

"I do," said Mr. Finn. "God knows that if it weren't for His command, I
should myself withdraw."

"I appreciate your position, perfectly," replied Paul, "but that
doesn't relieve me of my responsibilities."

Silas Finn rose and locked the fingers of both hands together and stood
before Paul, with appealing eyes. "My son, after what I have said, you
are not going to stand against me?"

Paul rose too. A sudden craze of passion swept him. "My country has
been my country for thirty years. You have been my father for five
minutes. I stand by my country."

Silas Finn turned away and waved a haphazard hand. "And I must stand by
my God."

"Very well. That bring; us to our original argument. 'Political foes.
Private friends.'"

Silas turned again and looked into the young man's eyes. "But father
and son, Paul."

"All the more honourable. There'll be no mud-throwing. The cleanest
election of the century."

The elder man again covered his face with both hands, and his black and
white streaked hair fell over his fingers and the great diamond in his
ring flashed oddly, and he rocked his head for a while to and fro.

"I had a call," he wailed. "I had a call. I had a call from God. It was
clear. It was absolute. But you don't understand these things. His will
must prevail. It was terrible to think of crushing your career--my only
son's career. I brought these two friends to help me persuade you not
to oppose me. I did my