And as she felt personally to Raymond’s work, so did she want the world of women to feel to all men’s work.  She would not have them claim their rights in the argument of parity of intellect, for that she felt to be vain.  It was by the virtue of disparity that their equality should appear.  Their virtue and essential aid depended on the difference.  The world wanted women, not to do what men had done, but to bring to the task the special qualities and distinctive genius of womanhood to complement and crown the labour of manhood.  The mighty structure was growing; but it would never be finished without the saving grace of woman’s thought and the touch of woman’s hand.  The world’s work needed them—­not for the qualities they shared with men, but for the qualities men lacked and they possessed.  If Raymond represented the masculine worker, she hoped that she might presently stand in the ranks of the women, and doubted not that great women would arise to lead her.

She remembered that the Roman element of humanity was described as representing the male spirit, while the Greek stood for the female; and she could easily dream a blend of the two destined to produce a spirit greater than either.  Love quickened her visions and added the glow of life to her hopes.

So together she and her future husband prepared for their wedded days, and if ever a man and woman faced the future with steadfast determination to do justly and serve their kind with the best of their united powers, this man and woman did.

They were to be married after the election, and that would take place early in the coming year.

CHAPTER XXI

ATROPOS

Ironsyde for once found himself part of a machine, and by no means the most important part.  He fought the election resolutely and spared no energy.  The attraction of the contest grew upon him, and since he contended against a personal acquaintance, one who rated sportsmanship as highly as Arthur Waldron himself, the encounter proceeded on rational lines.  It became exceedingly strenuous in the later stages and Raymond’s agent, from an attitude of certainty, grew more doubtful.  But the personal factor told for the Liberal.  He was popular in the constituency and Waldron, himself a strong Conservative, whose vote must necessarily be cast against his future son-in-law, preached the moral.

“If you beat us, Ray, it will be entirely owing to the fact that you played cricket and football in the public eye for twenty years,” he asserted and believed.

The Liberal Committee room was at ‘The Seven Stars,’ for Mr. Legg supported the cause of democracy and pinned his highest hopes thereto.  He worked hard for Ironsyde and, on the sole occasion when painful incidents threatened to spoil a public meeting, Job exercised tact and saved the situation.