“Parliament has been the grave of so many men’s careers,” Maraton continued.  “I am fully warned.  Nothing of the sort is going to happen to me.  I wouldn’t have gone in now but for Foley.  It’s only fair.  It helps him, and he’s sticking to his pledges like a man.”

“When do you go to Sheffield?” she asked.

“Next Wednesday.  No postponements.”

Julia nodded.

“Mr. Elgood has been here this afternoon,” she said, “from Sheffield.  He is the secretary of the Union, you know.  He is coming again to-morrow morning.  He wants to talk to you about the boys’ age limit.”

“Any letters of consequence?”

Julia pointed a little disdainfully to a pile upon the table.

“All invitations,” she observed coldly.  “Perhaps you had better look them through.”

Maraton shook his head.

“They are no use to me,” he declared, “unless they’re political?”

He rose and stood by Julia’s side, glancing idly through the heap of papers by the side of her machine.

“You seem to have found plenty to do, anyway,” he remarked.

“There was a great deal,” she assured him.  “I think I have collected all the possible information you can need on the steel works of Sheffield.”

“Haven’t been overworking, I hope?”

She laughed at him softly.  Her parted lips seemed somehow to lighten her face.

“This doesn’t quite compare with nine hours a day over a sewing machine, with a hundred other girls packed into a small room,” she reminded him.  “No, I haven’t been overworking.  I almost wished, an hour ago, that I could find something more to do.”

“Why didn’t you go out?”

“To-morrow night is Guild night,” she said.  “I go out then to talk to my girls.  Miss Stevens is coming from the Lyceum Club to lecture to us on Woman’s Suffrage.”

“Do you want a vote?” he asked.

“If it comes,"’ she replied.  “It isn’t worth worrying about.  I like my girls, though, to be taught to think.”

There was a brief silence.  Maraton was still examining the letters laid out for his inspection.  Julia was standing by his side.  As the last one slipped through his fingers, he turned quickly towards her, oppressed by some mysterious significance in her silence.  Her eyes were luminous.  She seemed to be trembling.  She avoided his enquiring glance.

“Julia!” he exclaimed.

She lifted her head slowly, almost unwillingly.  Though her lips were parted, she made no attempt at speech.  Then the door was suddenly opened.  Aaron entered in some excitement.

“Mr. Dale and some of the others are here now, sir,” he announced.  “I heard they were on their way when I telephoned.  They would like to see you at once.”

Maraton stood for a moment quite still, without replying.  Aaron gazed across the table in some surprise.

“What shall I say to them?” he asked.  “They are here now.”