excusing himself on the score of business.

"What a splendid fellow he is!" said Richard. "Always keen on
something."

"Yes," said Helen, "he's always been like that."

"This is a great undertaking of his," Richard continued. "It's a
business that won't stop with ships, I should say. We shall see him
in Parliament, or I'm much mistaken. He's the kind of man we want in
Parliament--the man who has done things."

But Helen was not much interested in her brother-in-law.

"I expect your head's aching, isn't it?" she asked, pouring a fresh cup.

"Well, it is," said Richard. "It's humiliating to find what a slave one
is to one's body in this world. D'you know, I can never work without a
kettle on the hob. As often as not I don't drink tea, but I must feel
that I can if I want to."

"That's very bad for you," said Helen.

"It shortens one's life; but I'm afraid, Mrs. Ambrose, we politicians
must make up our minds to that at the outset. We've got to burn the
candle at both ends, or--"

"You've cooked your goose!" said Helen brightly.

"We can't make you take us seriously, Mrs. Ambrose," he protested. "May