``Spilt milk,'' said Victor. ``We must forget it, and plan to
meet the new conditions. We'll start the paper at once. We
can't attack him. Very clever of him-- very clever! If he were
as brave as he is shrewd, I'd almost give up hope of winning this
town while he was in politics here. But he lacks courage. And
he daren't think and speak honestly. How that does cripple a
man!''

``He'll be one of us before very long,'' said Selma. ``You
misjudge him, Victor.''

Dorn smiled. ``Not so long as his own class gratifies his
ambitions,'' replied Victor. ``If he came with us it'd be
because his own class had failed him and he hoped to rise through
and upon--ours.''

Selma did not agree with him. But as she always felt
presumptuous and even foolish in disagreeing with Victor, she
kept silent. And presently Victor began to lay out her share in
the task of starting up the New Day. ``I shall be all right
within a week,'' said he, ``and we must get the first number out
the week following.'' She was realizing now that Hull's move had
completely upset an elaborate plan of campaign into which Victor
had put all his intelligence and upon which he had staked all his
hopes. She marvelled as he talked, unfolding rapidly an entirely
new campaign, different in every respect from what the other
would have been. How swiftly his mind had worked, and how well!
How little time he had wasted in vain regrets! How quickly he
had recovered from a reverse that would have halted many a strong