mind just what you want to do," Plowden reflected aloud.
"Of course it has come suddenly upon you--just as it has
upon me. There are things in plenty that we've dreamed
of doing, while the power to do them was a long way off.
It doesn't at all follow that these are the things we shall
proceed to do, when the power is actually in our hands.
But have you any plans at all? Do you fancy going
into Parliament, for example?"

"Yes," answered Thorpe, meditatively. "I think I should
like to go into Parliament. But that would be some
way ahead. I guess I've got my plans worked out a trifle
more than you think. They may not be very definite,
as regards details, but their main direction I know
well enough. I'm going to be an English country gentleman."

Lord Plowden visibly winced a little at this announcement.
He seemed annoyed at the consciousness that he had done so,
turning abruptly first to stare out of the window,
then shifting his position on the seat, and at last stealing
an uneasy glance toward his companion. Apparently his
tongue was at a loss for an appropriate comment.

Thorpe had lost none of these unwilling tokens of embarrassment.
Plowden saw that at once, but it relieved even more than
it surprised him to see also that Thorpe appeared not
to mind. The older man, indeed, smiled in good-natured
if somewhat ironical comprehension of the dumb-show.

"Oh, that'll be all right, too," he said, with the evident