‘Have I offended you?’

‘No.’

I fancy that he noted the tremor which was in my voice, and read it rightly.  For he too was still.  Presently his hand stole along the parapet, and fastened upon mine, and held it tight.

And that was how it came about.  Other things were said; but they were hardly of the first importance.  Though I believe we took some time in saying them.  Of myself I can say with truth, that my heart was too full for copious speech; I was dumb with a great happiness.  And, I believe, I can say the same of Paul He told me as much when we were parting.

It seemed that we had only just come there when Paul started.  Turning, he stared up at Big Ben.

‘Midnight!—­The House up!—­Impossible!’

But it was more than possible, it was fact.  We had actually been on the Bridge two hours, and it had not seemed ten minutes.  Never had I supposed that the flight of time could have been so entirely unnoticed.  Paul was considerably taken aback.  His legislative conscience pricked him.  He excused himself—­in his own fashion.

’Fortunately, for once in a way, my business in the House was not so important as my business out of it.’

He had his arm through mine.  We were standing face to face.

‘So you call this business!’

He laughed.

He not only saw me into a cab, but he saw me home in it.  And in the cab he kissed me.  I fancy I was a little out of sorts that night.  My nervous system was, perhaps, demoralised.  Because, when he kissed me, I did a thing which I never do,—­I have my own standard of behaviour, and that sort of thing is quite outside of it; I behaved like a sentimental chit.  I cried.  And it took him all the way to my father’s door to comfort me.

I can only hope that, perceiving the singularity of the occasion, he consented to excuse me.

CHAPTER XXIV

A WOMAN’S VIEW

Sydney Atherton has asked me to be his wife.  It is not only annoying; worse, it is absurd.

This is the result of Paul’s wish that our engagement should not be announced.  He is afraid of papa;—­not really, but for the moment.  The atmosphere of the House is charged with electricity.  Party feeling runs high.  They are at each other, hammer and tongs, about this Agricultural Amendment Act.  The strain on Paul is tremendous.  I am beginning to feel positively concerned.  Little things which I have noticed about him lately convince me that he is being overwrought.  I suspect him of having sleepless nights.  The amount of work which he has been getting through lately has been too much for any single human being, I care not who he is.  He himself admits that he shall be glad when the session is at an end.  So shall I.