d and ruinous war had drained the empire of its surplus wealth, and every known industry was suffering from an almost paralyzing depression-Medchester, perhaps, as severely

ought of the tempest which before long must break over the land. Meanwhile, the streets were filled with unemployed, whose demeanour day by day grew less and less pacific. People asked one another helplessly what was being done to avert the threatened crisis. The manufacturers,

ciate them. He had just returned from a lengthened visit to the United States, and what he had seen there he kept at first very much to h

ll you where I think that as a nation we are going wrong. We fixed once upon a great principle, and we nailed it to our mast-for all time. That is a mistake. Absolute Free Trade, such as is at present our national policy, was a m

elt that they were not lightly spoken. Henslow had more behind. A p

sured seat for a more guarded speech than that. For generations even a

verance of that country from the United Kingdom, or the maintenance of the Union. Good! Now, in more recent times, the South African war and the realization of what our Colonies could do for us has introduced a new factor. Those who have believed in a doctrine of expansion have called themselves 'Imperialists,' and those who have favoured less wide-reaching ideals, and perhaps more attention to home matters, have been christened 'Little Englanders.' Many elections have been fought out on these lines, if not between

excitement, and Mr. Bullsom walked back to his office with Brooks. A fine

of it, Brooks?" Bul

ounger answered. "Ten years ago there could hav

terers. Men in long lines stood upon the kerbstones, their hands in their pockets, watching, waiting-God knows for what. There were all sorts, of course, the professional idlers and the drunkard were there, but the others-there was no lack of them. There was no lack

ve some sort of a home to go to. Fancy it-one's womankind, perhaps children-and nothing to take home to them. It's suc

m was unco

d pounds to the Unem

e day they may learn their strength, and they will not suffer then, like

of work, my lad?" he asked. The youth turned

you?" Br

ick

leave your

op's shut up. Know of a job, guv'nor?" he asked, with a mome

et a place elsewhe

d the blessed town. I went to thirty factories yesterday, a

s half-a-crown. Go to that coffee-palace over t

my brother on that. Here, Ned," he caught hold of a younger b

ogether. Brooks and hi

. I tell you that in a healthily-governed country there should be work for every man who is able and willing to work. And in England there isn't. Free Trade works

ilent for sev

e said. "I'll send another hundred

us. What they want, and what they have a right to, is just legislation. That's where we come in. Politics isn't a huge joke, or the vehicle for any one man's personal ambition. We who interest ourselves, however remotely, in them, impose upon ourselves a great

ing a car for his suburban paradise. As usual, he

lection, Bullsom?"

on. He glanced round the car, collecting the att

er the mass meeting on Saturday night. I think that

sleeve, eh?" his firs

from the immediate matter of this election, I can t

iked to see these nightly companions of his hang upon his words. It w

t," he said, "ou

his speech was not i

e meeting this afternoon, w

ow," Mr. Bullsom rep

oo

sensation

our new agen

ho plays cricke

olfer, t

speech, some o

Secular Hall." "Rather a sma

m looked a

well. Mark my words, all of you. I gave him his first case of any importance, and I got him this job as agent for Henslow

Brooks next time they saw him, and Mr. Bullsom trudged up his avenue with fresh

g of giving a dinner-party. How many p

oung ladies, Selina and Louise, wh

elina exclaimed,

're not much in the social way. There's plenty of people living round us in a sight smaller houses who don't know us, and wouldn't if they could-and I'm not s

Selina exclaimed,

more assured tone as he reached his favourite position. "I've reasons for wishing to have Mr. Kingston Brooks

ing down her knitting, "when it's only three weeks ago you sent h

nton," Mr. Bullsom con

nd tell him to look in a

he matter with me, and I

is exclusive. But I'll

. Now, who

knew that it was this sort of an aff

ise added. "I'm sure

nd clothes and such-like. You've had a free 'and. Now let's see something for it. Half-a-dozen couples'll be enough if you can't get more, but I Won't have the Nortons, or the Marvises, or any of that podgy

an't ask these other people whom we know so slightly like that-

ight even if we were alone, as long as there were ladies there. And as for the dinner, you don't suppose I'm such a mug as to leave that to Ann. I shall go to

," Mrs. Bullsom said, mildly. "

llsom inquired. "This

tossed

" she declared. "Mary knows nothing about society, an

anded. No one knew. As a matter of fact