a! Surely not putting my papers in order--or rather
disorder? I thought you were far too intimate with my likes and
dislikes to do that!... Why, what's the matter?"

_Linda_: "Oh nothing. I was only seeing if they had made up your
fire. I--I--haven't touched anything."

(Rossiter looked anxiously at the grate, but was relieved to see
nothing but burnt, shrivelled squares of paper. He poked the fire
fiercely and at any rate demolished the remains of Vivie's letter.)

_Rossiter_: "Yes: it isn't very cheerful. They must brighten it
while we are at dinner; though as we shall go to the drawing-room
afterwards we shan't need a huge fire here. There! It looks better
after that poke. I threw some papers on it to start a flame just
before I went up to dress.... Why dearie! What cold hands and what
flushed cheeks!"...

_Linda_: "Oh Michael! You'll always love me, won't you? I--I know
I'm not clever, not half clever enough for you. But I _do_ try to
help you all I can. I--I--" (Sobs.)

_Rossiter_ (really distressed): "_Of course_ I love you! What silly
notion have you got into your head?" (He asks himself anxiously
"Surely all that letter was burnt before she came in?") "Come! Pull
yourself together. Be worthy of that dress. It is such a beauty."

_Linda_: "I thought you'd like it. I remembered your saying that
blue always became me." (Dabs at her eyes with a small lace
handkerchief.)

Loud double knocks begin to sound. Dinner guests are soon announced.
Linda and Michael receive them heartily. Rossiter--as many a public
man does and has to do--shoves his vain regrets, remorse, anxiety,
weary longing for the unattainable--somewhere to the back of his
brain, where these feelings will not revive till he lies awake at
three in the morning; and prepares to entertain half-a-dozen hearty
men and buxom women who are easily impressed by a little spoon-fed
science. Linda is soon distracted from the scrap of paper in her
bosom and gives all her attention to her cousins and grown-up school
friends from Bradford and Northallerton who are delighted to see the
New Year in amid the gaieties of London.

But before she rings for her maid and undresses that night, she
locks the burnt fragment in a secret drawer of her desk.

The Ministry which was returned to power in December, 1910, had to
plan during the first half of 1911 to keep the Suffragists becalmed
with promises and prevent their making any public protest which
might mar the C