a
busy world where everybody is far too much occupied to think about
anything except business. Parliament's busy too: it has got to get
certain things done and it hasn't time for too much idealism and
spiritual attitudes and things of that sort. And when it comes to the
rather dull but very necessary work of keeping things going and
administering the Empire, I prefer the Liberals, because they have got
leaders with brains."

"I see."

"You think me very worldly?"

"Not at all. But I think you are wrong on your own canons. Liberal
leaders may be cleverer than Tory leaders, but that doesn't prove
Liberalism to be efficient. Just look at things!"

"And for efficiency you propose Socialism?"

"Not only for efficiency. It's a philosophy as well."

"But we're considering efficiency. Do you really suppose you have got
at your disposal the human capacity and good will and reasonableness to
build up a Co-operative Commonwealth? I don't say man hasn't the
brains to plan things. He plainly has, as you can see by reading the
wiser Socialists. But he hasn't a corresponding capacity for cohesion
and give and take. You'll have to depend on your Labour leaders and
Trade Unionists; but just look at them! They can only squabble and
bicker and show up their jealousy and pettiness. That's where the
stumbling-block lies."

In vain Martin contested. His opponent confronted him with the old
dilemma (new to him), that if, in setting up collectivism, you
confiscate property, you act unjustly to many, while, if you
compensate, you maintain an idle rich class. By the time that they
were once more on the march, Martin was becoming a devotee of
'efficient Liberalism.' But he enjoyed his defeat. If this method and
insistence had come from a man he would have felt very differently.

At last they reached Two Bridges and had tea at the hotel and waited
for the car to fetch them as had been arranged. It pleased Martin to
pay for the tea with his own pocket-money (his allowance would begin
to-morrow) and to refuse to listen to demands. She thought him silly
for the moment, since she did not understand how much he cared.

Dinner that evening was a capital meal. John Berrisford was in his
best form and kept up a lively duel with Viola Cartmell. Even Robert
managed to shake off the depressing effects of Aristotle. They drank
to Martin's career at Oxford.

"You're certain to like Oxford," said Godfrey Cartmell when the men