She told Estelle what Abel had declared he would do.

“You’d best let Mister Ironsyde know,” she said, “and he’ll take steps according.  If the boy can be kept out from any meeting it would be wisest.  But I’m powerless.  I’ve wearied my tongue begging and blaming and praying to him to use his sense; but it’s beyond my power to make him understand.  There’s a devil in him and nobody can cast it out.”

“He won’t speak to me now.  Poor Abel—­yes, it’s something like a devil.  I’ll tell his father.  We were very hopeful about the future until—­But if he gets to work, it may sweeten him.  He’ll have good wages and meet nice people.”

“I wish it had been farther off.”

“So did I,” answered Estelle; “but his father wants him under his own eye and will put him into something better the moment he can.  You won’t mention this to Abel, and he won’t hear it there, because the workers don’t know it; but Raymond has a large interest in the Mill really.”

“I’ll not mention it.  I’ll go to-morrow, and the boy will know nothing save that I’ve got him a good job.”

“He can begin next month; and that will help him every way, I hope.”

So things fell out, and within a month Abel was at work.  He believed his mother solely responsible for this occupation.  She had yet to find a home at Bridport, so he came and went from Bridetown.

He was soon deeply interested and only talked about his labours with a steam engine.  Of his troubles he ceased to speak, and for many days never mentioned his father’s name.

CHAPTER XX

IDEALS

An event which seemed more or less remote, came suddenly to the forefront of Raymond Ironsyde’s life, for ill-health hastened the retirement of the sitting member and a parliamentary bye-election was called for.

Having undertaken the constituency he could not turn back, though the sudden demand had not been expected.  But he found plenty of enthusiastic helpers and his own personality had made him many friends.

It was indeed upon the significance of personality that much turned, and incidentally the experiences into which he now entered served to show him all that personality may mean.  Estelle rejoiced that he should now so swiftly learn what had so long been apparent to her.  She always declared an enthusiasm for personality; to her it seemed the force behind everything and the mainspring of all movement.  Lack of personality meant stagnation; but granted personality, then advance was possible—­almost inevitable.

He caught her meaning and appreciated what followed from it.  But he saw that personality demands freedom before its fullest expression and highest altitude are attainable.  That altitude had never been reached as yet even by the most liberty-loving people.

“There’s no record in all the world of what man might do under conditions of real liberty,” said Estelle.  “It has never been possible so far; but I do believe history shows that the nearer we approach to it, the more beautiful life becomes for everybody.”