h; possessed by a plausible theory of
government, he readily conceived himself on the heights of
statesmanship, ruling the nation for its behoof. And so, as he read the
London and provincial papers this morning, they had all at once a new
interest for him; he probed questions, surveyed policies, and whilst
smiling at the intellectual poverty of average man, gravely marked for
himself a shining course amid the general confusion and ineptitude.

At ten o'clock there shot a glint of promise across the clouded sky;
rain had ceased, the wind was less boisterous. Lashmar set forth
briskly on foot, and walked to Shawe, where he arrived in good time for
his appointment. The manager of the mill, a very intelligent Scotchman,
conscientiously showed him everything that was to be seen, and Dyce
affected great interest. Real interest he felt little or none; the
processes of manufacture belonged to a world to which he had never
given the slightest thought, which in truth repelled him. But he tried
to persuade himself that he saw everything from a philosophical point
of view, and found a place for it in his system. The folk employed he
regarded attentively and saw that they looked healthy, well cared for.

"This must all be very gratifying to Lady Ogram," he remarked, in a
voice which struck just the right note of dignified reflection.

"I understand that it is," replied the manager. "And to Miss Bride
also, no doubt."

"Does Miss Bride take an active interest in the mill?"

"In the hands, she does. She is an uncommon sort of young lady and, I
should say, makes her influence felt."

As this was the most direct statement which the Scotchman had committed
himself during their hour together, it correspondingly impressed
Lashmar. He went away thinking of Constance, and wondering whether she
was indeed such a notable woman. Must he really regard her as an equal,
or something like it. Needless to say that Dyce at heart deemed all
women his natural inferiors, and only by conscious effort could
entertain the possibility that one or other of their sex might view and
criticise him with level eyes. Six years ago Connie Bride had looked up
to him; he, with his University culture, held undoubted superiority
over the country girl striving hard to educate herself and to find a
place in the world. But much had changed since then, and Dyce was
beginning to feel that it would not do to reckon on any dulness, or
wilful blindness, in Constance with