of the new republic."

Maraton sighed.

"Even the _Oracle_," he reminded them, "is convinced that I have no
personal ambitions."

Mr. Foley took up his hat. He had been in high good humour throughout
the interview. Already he was looking forward to meeting his
colleagues.

"Well, we'll be off, Maraton," he said. "We had no right to come and
disturb you at this time in the morning, only we were really anxious to
book you for our quiet week in Scotland. Change your mind about it,
there's a good fellow. I shall be your helpless prey up there. You
could make of me what you would." Maraton shook his head very firmly.

"It is not possible," he answered. "Please do not think that I do not
appreciate your hospitality--and your kindness, Lady Elisabeth."

She looked at him for a moment rather curiously. There was something of
reproach in her eyes; something, too, which he failed to understand.
She did not speak at all.

"Miss Thurnbrein," Maraton begged, "will you see Mr. Foley and Lady
Elisabeth out? It sounds cowardly, doesn't it," he added, "but I really
don't think that I dare show myself."

Julia rose slowly to her feet and passed towards the door, which Maraton
was holding open. She lingered outside while Maraton shook hands with
his two visitors, then would have hurried on in advance, but that
Elisabeth stopped her.

"Do tell me," she asked, "you are the Miss Thurnbrein who has written so
much upon woman labour, aren't you?"

"I have written one or two articles," Julia replied, looking straight
ahead of her.

"I read one in the National Review," Elisabeth continued, "and another
in one of the evening papers. I can't tell you, Miss Thurnbrein, how
interested I was."

Julia turned and looked slowly at her questioner. Her cheeks seemed
more pallid than usual, her eyes were full of smouldering fire.

"I didn't write to interest people," she said calmly. "I wrote to
punish them, to let them know a little of what they were guilty."

"But surely," Elisabeth protested, "you make some excuse for those who
have really no opportunity for finding out? There is a society now, I
am told, for watching over the conditions of woman labour in the east
end. Is that so really?"

"There is such a society," Julia admitted. "I am the secretary of it."

"You must let me join," Elisabeth begged. "Please do. Won't you come
and see me one afternoon--any afternoon--and tell me all about it?
Indeed I am in earnest," she went on,