alked about the coming
election. If the Party got back, Phillips would go to the Board of
Trade. It would afford him a better platform for the introduction of his
land scheme.

"What do you gather is the general opinion?" Joan asked. "That he will
succeed?"

"The general opinion seems to be that his star is in the ascendant,"
Madge answered with a smile; "that all things are working together for
his good. It's rather a useful atmosphere to have about one, that. It
breeds friendship and support!"

Joan looked at her watch. She had an article to finish. Madge stood on
tiptoe and kissed her.

"Don't think me unsympathetic," she said. "No one will rejoice more than
I shall if God sees fit to call you to good work. But I can't help
letting fall my little tear of fellowship with the weeping."

"And mind your p's and q's," she added. "You're in a difficult position.
And not all the eyes watching you are friendly."

Joan bore the germ of worry in her breast as she crossed the Gray's Inn
Garden. It was a hard law, that of the world: knowing only winners and
losers. Of course, the woman was to be pitied. No one could feel more
sorry for her than Joan herself. But what had Madge exactly meant by
those words: that she could "see her doing something really big," if she
thought it would help him? There was no doubt about her affection for
him. It was almost dog-like. And the child, also! There must be
something quite exceptional about him to have won the devotion of two
such opposite beings. Especially Hilda. It would be hard to imagine any
lengths to which Hilda's blind idolatry would not lead her.

She ran down twice to Folkestone during the following week. Her visits
made her mind easier. Mrs. Phillips seemed so placid, so contented.
There was no suggestion of suffering, either mental or physical.

She dined with the Greysons the Sunday after, and mooted the question of
the coming fight with Carleton. Greyson thought Phillips would find
plenty of journalistic backing. The concentration of the Press into the
hands of a few conscienceless schemers was threatening to reduce the
journalist to a mere hireling, and the better-class men were becoming
seriously alarmed. He found in his desk the report of a speech made by a
well-known leader writer at a recent dinner of the Press Club. The man
had risen to respond to the toast of his own health and had taken the
opportunity to unpack his heart.

"I am p