attraction. She knew that behind his listlessness of manner he
possessed a certain steady energy, perfect self-command, and that
combination of self-confidence and indifference which usually
attains success in the world. She was ambitious not only for
herself but for him, and she was shrewd enough to know that the only
safe outlet for a woman's ambition is the channel of a husband's
career.

"But," he said, "it will mean waiting."

He paused, and then the worldly wisdom which he had learnt from his
father--that worldly wisdom which is sometimes called cynicism--
prompted him to lay the matter before her in its worst light.

"It will mean waiting for a couple of years at least. And for you
it will mean the dulness of a long engagement, and the anomalous
position of an engaged girl without her rightful protector. It will
mean that your position in society will be quite different--that
half the world will pity you, while the other half thinks you--well,
a fool for your pains."

"I don't care," she answered.

"Of course," he went on, "I must go away. That is the only way to
get on in politics in these days. I must go away and get a
speciality. I must know more about some country than any other man;
and when I come back I must keep that country ever before the eye of
the intelligent British workman who reads the halfpenny evening
paper. That is fame--those are politics."