with day-to-day postponement of practical decision. When Warburton
came back from St. Kitts, and their friendship was renewed,
Godfrey's talk gave full play to his imaginative energies. Yes, yes,
the refining business was at a bad pass just now, but this was only
temporary; those firms that could weather the storm for a year or
two longer would enter upon a time of brilliant prosperity. Was it
to be supposed that the Government would allow a great industry to
perish out of mere regard for the fetish of Free Trade? City men
with first-hand information declared that "measures" were being
prepared; in one way or another, the English trade would be rescued
and made triumphant over those bounty-fed foreigners.

"Hold on?" cried Sherwood. "Of course I mean to hold on. There's
pleasure and honour in the thing. I enjoy the fight. I've had
thoughts of getting into Parliament, to speak for sugar. One might
do worse, you know. There'll be a dissolution next year, certain.
First-rate fun, fighting a constituency. But in that case I must
have a partner here--why that's an idea. How would it suit you?
Why not join me?"

And so the thing came about. The terms which Godfrey offered were so
generous that Will had to reduce them before he accepted: even thus,
he found his income, at a stroke, all but doubled. Sherwood, to be
sure, did not stand for Parliament, nor was anything definite heard
about that sugar-protecting budget which he still believed in. In
Little Ailie Street business steadily declined.

"It's a disgrace to England!" cried Godfrey. "Monstrous that not a
finger should be lifted to save one of our most important
industries. You, of course, are free to retire at any moment, Will.