of conservative policy, which went steadily from Lord Salisbury to
Alfred, and gradually enclosed, as though it were a lasso that opened
and caught things, enormous chunks of the habitable globe.

"It's taken a long time, but we've pretty nearly done it," he said; "it
remains to consolidate."

"And these people don't see it!" Clarissa exclaimed.

"It takes all sorts to make a world," said her husband. "There would
never be a government if there weren't an opposition."

"Dick, you're better than I am," said Clarissa. "You see round, where I
only see _there_." She pressed a point on the back of his hand.

"That's my business, as I tried to explain at dinner."

"What I like about you, Dick," she continued, "is that you're always the
same, and I'm a creature of moods."

"You're a pretty creature, anyhow," he said, gazing at her with deeper
eyes.

"You think so, do you? Then kiss me."

He kissed her passionately, so that her half-written letter slid to the
ground. Picking it up, he read it without asking leave.

"Where's your pen?" he said; and added in his little masculine hand: