y at his guest. After a very perceptible pause he
said:

"It is impossible for me to give you a definite opinion . . ."

"It's not an _opinion_ I want," Miss Buttermish interrupted scornfully,
"it's a definite guarantee. Otherwise, young man, you may make up your
mind to incessant interruption and . . . to various other annoyances
which I need not enumerate. We don't care a bent pin whether you are a
Liberal or a Tory or a red-hot Socialist, so long as you are sound on
the Suffrage question. If you are in favour of 'Votes for Women,' then
we'll help you; if not . . . I advise you to put up your shutters."

Eloquent flushed angrily and, strangely enough, so did Miss Buttermish
at the same moment. In fact, no sooner had she spoken the last
sentence than she looked extremely hot and uncomfortable.

"I see no use," he said coldly, "in prolonging this interview. I
cannot give you the guarantee you wish for. It is not my custom to
make up my mind upon any question of political importance without
considerable research and much thought. Intimidation would never turn
me from my course if, after such investigation, I should decide against
your cause. Nor would any annoyance your party may inflict upon me
now, affect my support of your cause should I, ultimately, come to
believe in its justice."

Miss Buttermish rose. "Mr Gallup," she said solemnly, "there is at
present a very wide-spread discontent among us. Till we get the vote
we shall manifest that discontent, and I warn you that the lives of
members of Parliament and candidates who are not avowedly on our side
will be made"--here Miss Buttermish swallowed hastily . . . "most
unpleasant. Those that are not for us are against us, and . . . we are
very much up against them. I am sorry we should part in anger . . ."

"Pardon me," Eloquent interrupted, "there is no anger on my side. I
respect your opinions even though as yet I may not wholly share them."

Miss Buttermish shook her head. "I'm really sorry for you," she
murmured; "you are young, and you little know what you are letting
yourself in for."

Eloquent opened the parlour door for her with stiff politeness, and she
passed out with bent head and shoulders that trembled under the heavy
fur. Surely this militant young person was not going to cry!

He followed her in some anxiety down to the garden gate, held it open
for her to pass through, which she did in absolute silence, and he
waited to watch h