Elizabeth's Campaign

enry had presented to him from time to time-Government communications, Committee reports, and the like-we

e taken a great deal of trouble about it. We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the fo

age, the food needs of our Allies, and the absolute necessity for undoing and repairing the havoc of Cobdenism-matters of whic

roughly brok

u said about plou

other bits elsewhere. This first bit is so far from the house you'll never notice

n to tick things off on th

gson first of all-for bad farming; you ask me to plough up fifty acres of my p

strain on his temper was coming,

st-for your own advant

e"? I don't yet unde

al Committee, formed for the express purpose of getting more foo

efuse, what

Henry, smiling uncomfortabl

farmers, and plough m

rs are ve

e beastly thing?-"Dora"-th

enry

t-tails, his long spider legs and small feet picking their way in and

nds, I shall not gi

he lanky figure stan

nment's proceedings than you are. We landlords may have to defend ourselves. I want, if I may say so, to keep your influence intact for the things that really matter. You and

suave tone of the speaker had c

n. You may take it from me that I shall not

steps in,' said

t? Very well, let

se, most anxious

s nonsense! I ref

shoulders. His tone b

o sensible man could-that we've simply got to grow more

chief abroad, and a pack of incompetents called politicians unable to keep their heads at home, there'd have been no war. It's Russia's war-Fran

hind the war,' sai

nd tired of the war. We are all dying of the war! We shall all be paupers because of the war! What is France to

Henry sharply, as

he Punch and Judy show-he thinks he's knocked me flat. He hasn't. I've a new argument every time he comes. And as for my daughters, they think me a lunatic-

ing!' Sir Henry pointed to the va

s are making. When the war's become a nightmare that nobody wants to remember, those little things'-he poin

ons were rising which he knew now he should not lon

n able to convince you. I'm sorry for your

d out of his mou

uire b

t argue. The other's a child-a babe-whom the Governm

arlier, and was now as pale as himself, and then at the sketch of Desmond,

I'll-I'll do what I can to

e laughed

be turning out my farmers, and ploughing up my land, and cutting down my trees. Doesn't it strike you that-we

ble, his thin legs crossed, his thumbs in hi

sent to their enga

to withdraw it,' sai

dignation kept

s with young people's lives lik

an withdraw

t the County War Committe

said the Squire with sparkling eyes. 'The you

inally losing his temper. 'Aubrey is

s money and spends it. And if he is his own master,

ds laugh

ve you friction and trouble, you are going to

erties,' said the Squire pro

Henry broke it with dig

annot-I do not-believe you will carry out what you sa

. Sorry your visit has not been more agreeable. Forest will look after you.' And ringing the bel

echless with indignation and, if

rsary, and then, with his hands on his

with the glee of a mischievous child. 'But, ye gods, how his fea

determination he went to his writing-table and sat down to

so I suppose they'll do it for me. And they're going to plough up a lot of the park-without my leave. And Chicksands is the head and front of the whole business. He came here to-day to try and coax me into submission. But I would neither be coaxed nor bullied. I've broken with him; and if my children stand by me properly, they'll break with him too. I really don't see how you're going to marry Beryl after

cretary-came here six weeks ago-a topping young woman-who reads Greek like a bird. But

D MANN

with a complacent countenance, put it up a

excessive politeness. D-mn my politeness. It's always getting in my way. I forget that women are naturally lazy. I daresay she wa

here were some sheets lying on it mostly covered with an excellent G

erday I caught her out in her accents. Women play the devil with accents. But she writes a pretty Gr

person. 'I've promised to pick up s

you mean?' said the Sq

lipped mouth showed what

sance. Line of least resistance, you understand. Now

t of the war, or you go into it. You'd better go off to a camp now

ourses. If they'll let me go on with my book, I d

ooked at him

you look it. That annoys people. Now I might g

ur household

Half a pound of bread at the very least, and he gets as much for his supper, and nearly as much for his breakfast. "I shal

n't get it?' laughed Leva

rnment got us into the war; they're jolly well bound to feed us t

ame silent, aimless grin, and disappeare

seful. I shall get him to help catalogue these

reproachful air a

nd figure of the Squire's new secretary as she stood in the door-way. He expected a

, Mr. Mannering, that tea wa

time!' said the Squire discontentedly, fa

it's always the pleasa

mer secretaries, a Cambridge man and a spectacled maiden with a London University degree, he had been accustomed to play the tyran

se ways of putting her down. He beckoned her towards the

He pointed to a quotation from

He stopped he

that long!' He pointed t

r skin

rallel passages. I have them in one of my notebooks.' And she

Anyway, what do you say to those accents?' He pointed severely to anot

ess, as she bent over her pages. 'I assure y

lighted. His manner becam

e all make mistakes.... You have

hear it. She was already scratching out the offending words with

er. And I was to say, will you c

front of her along the library passage, his brilliant white hair gleaming in its shadows. It was well perhap

y. Perhaps the impression of youth predominated, youth uncertain of itself, conscious rather of its own richness and force than of any definite aims or desires. Her expression was extremely reserved. A veil seemed to lie over her deep, heavy-lidded eyes, and over features that had now delicacy and bloom, but promised much more-something far beyond any mere girlish prettiness. She was tall and finely made, and for the sch

shows the type) of many Dutch forebears had reappeared. She was a trifle plump; her hair curled prettily round her temples; her firm dimpled chin and the fair complexion of her face and neck were set off, evidently with intention, by the plain blouse of black silky stuff, open at the nec

om his daughter, and drank

's Des

mp. Captain Byles asked him. I think aft

the dull pain of which she was now habitually conscious-the pain of expected parting. In her father it aroused an equally habitual ant

something disagree

turned a st

t wish you, or Desmond, or any of my children, to have any c

what do y

dismay only increased t

warned Aubrey how I shall view it if he takes sides against me. But you and Desmond are under my contr

sionately, 'she is my best frien

uarrels are awkward things. And if Aubrey has any f

Henry been d

to my farmers, and proposing to plough up my park, without my co

arm of his chair wit

ornfully, her breath fluttering. 'Think what other people

. The Squire stared at her threateningly a little, then quieted down. He did not want a wra

pay the income tax next year. Mannering will be sold up.' And thrusting his hands again into his pockets, he looked gloom

ced at the father and daughter, and went disc

ut at last moved nearer to h

lly want you to le

sing himself. 'Don't try and co

y simple thing. Will you let me go and do day work at the new Hospital, just across

ged Miss Bremerton to give you two hours' classics a day. When we've arranged these pots, she'll be free. You must

king swabs, covering splints,' said Pamela in a low voice. 'There are two of the Joyce gir

his girls. I propose to do what I think b

rl's passio

o anything. Oh, I'm glad'-she clenched her hands as she stood opposite him,

frowned, turned abruptly,

ween yew hedges at the bottom of the Dutch garden, and paced it in a tumult of revolt and pain. N

Desmond and I would never speak to him again!... Beryl'll have Arthur to help her, directly. Oh, I wish I had a brother like Arthur!' Her face softened and quivered as she stood still a moment, sending her ardent look towards the sunset. 'I think I shall ask him to advise me.... I don't suppose he will.... Ho

uence of a remarkable head-mistress had been directed towards awakening in a group of elder girls, to which Pamela belonged, a vivid consciousness of the perils and sufferings of the war-of the sacredness of the cause for which England was fighting, of the glory of England, and t

porarily invalided, or boys of eighteen just starting their cadet training-she had spent a month full of emotions, not often expressed. For generally she was shy and rather speechless, though none the less liked by her companions for that. But many things sank deep with her; the beauty of mountain and stream; the character of some of the boys she walked and fished with-unnoticed sub-lieutenants, who had come home to get cured of one wound, and were going out again to the immediate chance of another, or worse; the tales of heroism and death of which the Scotch countryside was full. H

he water. She was not at all in love with him; but, immature as she was, she could not help seeing that he was a good deal in love

d, as he flung yet another stone into the river, and she clapped her

leave for a

ten months wit

meet here aga

ect it,' he

ed eyes me

han last-it'll go on getting worse til

ful and matter-of-fac

k like that!' was all

es. But just this afternoon-when it's been so jolly-here with y

n the moor beyond the stream

mber

g,' he said simply. 'Tha

into his, and he had held it without saying a word for a little while. Then after d

ndsome, clever or slow. Two of them were dead already. But the one who had thrown duck

out it. It was as though she had only just realized-begun to realize-her father's strangeness. His eccentricities and unpopularity had meant little to her befo

meanwhile not a single thing done for the war!-not a sou to the Red Cross, or to any war funds! And hundreds spent on antiquities-thousands perhaps-getting them deeper and deeper into debt. For she was quite aware that they were in debt; and her own allowance was of the sm

was this fearful thing going on!' And in the evening air, as the girl turned he

earnt some housekeeping at home, for future use. As for the Greek lessons, it was not easy for her to be positively rude to any one, but she promised herself a good deal of passive resistanc

rhaps to propose a lesson! Pamela took to flight-noiseless a

n the far distance. She sighed, but not at all sentimentally. 'It'

mined it. Far too many cakes-too much sugar, too much butter, too much everything! And all because the Squire, who seemed to have as great a need of economy as anybody else, if

it and waited. Within a couple of minutes Forest eme

ike to consult you. Do you think anybody wants as much

ray, and put it down again. He looked at the

been asked what we think. Mr.

sk it, mayn'

telligent f

the feeding here-well, it's a scandal! that's what it is. The Master will have it. No cha

en here lon

een y

d y

y-two,

ou think that you, and Cook, and I-you know Mr. Mannering wishes me

conside

at's certain, and on Cook, that's certain too. As for the young uns, we can get round

d. They stood colloguing in the