d what little time I have had to spare, I have
spent in study, in trying to fit myself for the fight against those
things that you and I and all of us know of. There has been no
opportunity," she went on, more slowly, "I have not allowed myself--"

"Ah, but it comes--it must come!" Selingman interrupted. "You have the
instinct--I am sure of that. Use your power a little. It will be for
his good. Every man who neglects his passions, weakens. You have the
gifts, Julia. I tell you that--I, Selingman, who know much about woman
and more about love and life. You've felt it, too, yourself sometimes
in the quiet hours. Haven't you lain in your bed with your eyes wide
open, and seen the ceiling roll away and the skies lean down, and felt
the thoughts come stealing into your brain, till all of a sudden you
found that your pulses were beating fast, and your heart was trembling,
and there was a sort of faint music in your blood and in your ears? Ah,
well, one knows! Suffer yourself to think of these hours when he is
with you sometimes. Don't make an ice maiden of yourself. You've done
good work. I know all about you. You could do more splendid work still
if you could weave that little spell which you and I know of."

"It is too late," she sighed, "too late now, he has become used to me. I
am a machine--nothing more, to him. He does not even realise that I am
a woman."

"What do you expect?" Aaron asked harshly. "Why should a man, with
great things in his brain, waste a moment in thinking of women?"

Selingman's under-lip shot out, a queer little way he had of showing his
contempt.

"Little man," he told Aaron, "you are a fanatic. You do not understand.
It is a quarter past nine and I am hungry. . . . Ah!"

Maraton came in just then. He had the air of a man who has been through
a crisis, but his eyes were bright as though with triumph. Selingman
stood up and filled a glass with wine.

"The first rivet has been driven home," he cried. "I see it."

"It has indeed," Maraton answered. "For good or for evil, the railway
strike is decided upon. There is civil war waging now, I can tell you,"
he added, as he sat down. "Graveling was there with a message. The
whole of the Labour Party is against the strike. The leaders of the men
are hot for it, and the men themselves. There wasn't a single one of
them who hesitated. Ernshaw, who represents the Union, told me that
there wasn't one of them who wouldn't get the sack if he dared to wav