CHAPTER XXIII

So the lovers were reconciled, although the question of marriage was farther off than ever, and the Princess and Miss Winwood wept on each other’s shoulders after the way of good women, and Paul declared that he needed no rest, and was eager to grapple with the world.  He had much to do.  First, he buried his dead, the Princess sending a great wreath and her carriage, after having had a queer interview with Jane, of which neither woman would afterwards speak a word; but it was evident that they had parted on terms of mutual respect and admiration.  Then Paul went through the task of settling his father’s affairs.  Jane having expressed a desire to take over the management of a certain department of the business, he gladly entrusted it to her capable hands.  He gave her the house at Hickney Heath, and Barney Bill took up his residence there as a kind of old watch-dog.  Meanwhile, introduced by Frank Ayres and Colonel Winwood, he faced the ordeal of a chill reception by the House of Commons and took his seat.  After that the nine-days’ wonder of the scandal came to an end; the newspapers ceased talking of it and the general public forgot all about him.  He only had to reckon with his fellow-members and with social forces.  His own house too he had to put in order.  He resigned his salary and position as Organizing Secretary of the Young England League, but as Honorary Secretary he retained control.  To assure his position he applied for Royal Letters Patent and legalized his name of Savelli, Finally, he plunged into the affairs of Fish Palaces Limited, and learned the many mysteries connected with that outwardly unromantic undertaking.

These are facts in Paul’s career which his chronicler is bound to mention.  But on Paul’s development they exercised but little influence.  He walked now, with open eyes, in a world of real things.  The path was difficult, but he was strong.  Darkness lay ahead, but he neither feared it nor dreamed dreams of brightness beyond.  The Vision Splendid had crystallized into an unconquerable purpose of which he felt the thrill.  Without Sophie Zobraska’s love he would have walked on doggedly, obstinately, with set teeth.  He had proved himself fearless, scornful of the world’s verdict.  But he would have walked in wintry gloom with a young heart frozen dead.  Now his path was lit by warm sunshine and the burgeon of spring was in his heart.  He could laugh again in his old joyous way; yet the laughter was no longer that of the boy, but of the man who knew the place that laughter should hold in a man’s life.

On the day when he, as chairman, had first presided over a meeting of the Board of Directors of Fish Palaces Limited, he went to the Princess and said:  “If I bring with me ’an ancient and fish-like smell, a kind of, not of the newest, Poor-John,’ send me about my business.”

She bade him not talk foolishly.