Love is Triumphant Read Online Free PDF Page B

very chilly summer."
    She did not reply, and a few minutes later the train pulled into London. After that the business of securing a cab made further discussion unnecessary.
    An hour later they drew up outside a large house in the elegant part of London, called Belgravia, where the Clarendons lived.
    When Rosina's parents had overcome their astonishment they were delighted to see her. Sir John explained only that she had witnessed a distressing accident at school, and had been sent home to recover. Then he courteously left the family alone and went up to his room.
    In the library a maid served tea and cakes, which Rosina devoured hungrily.
    "Sir John is staying with us for a while, my dear," her father explained.
    "Yes Papa, he has already told me."
    "That will please you I dare say," he added roguishly, for he was a kindly man and an observant one.
    But now he was forced to realise that the child he knew had vanished. In her place was a dignified young woman who regarded him with cool amazement.
    "Indeed, Papa? Why should you think so?"
    "Well, I know you've always liked him."
    "I hope I have always been polite to him."
    "Oh come now, don't tell me you haven't noticed that he's a very good-looking young man," Sir Elroy said in a rallying voice.
    "I consider his looks of no interest whatever."
    Faced with this queenly, offended creature, he began to realise that he had committed a faux pas, although he was still not quite certain how.
    "Well – I was only saying – that when a young lady – that is – "
    He stumbled into an embarrassed silence. Rosina seized his hands.
    "Dearest Papa, let me beg you never to speak in such a way again. If Sir John should get to know of it my position would be intolerable."
    "And it would be quite inappropriate," her mother said. "I'm sure Sir John is an excellent young man and all very well in his way, but – "
    Her frown indicated that where her daughter was concerned, she had much larger ambitions. At the same time she gave Rosina a tiny shake of the head, indicating that she would deal with Papa. Sir Elroy, having been put in his place by both his womenfolk, subsided into meek silence.
    When they had all drunk a cup of tea and eaten some scones, the matter was past and he felt he might be permitted to speak again.
    "The next few months are going to be very exciting, and I'll be glad to have you at home when we start campaigning in earnest."
    "Sir John has already explained that the vote will be delayed until the autumn, because of the reform bill," said Rosina.
    "That's right. So many more men will have the vote that the canvassing will have to be rethought. John has devised a plan of action that will be most demanding. This is going to be a most vital election, and for the next few months there'll be no time to think about anything else."
    "Indeed there will," his wife said indignantly. "Rosina will have her coming out ball, and that's every bit as important as who runs the country."
    Sir Elroy begged his wife's pardon and promised not to forget again. But he had an ally in Rosina, who was eagerly anticipating the coming contest.
    "Do you really think we're going to win, Papa?"
    By 'we' she meant the Liberal party, of which her father was a prominent member, and on whose behalf he held his seat in Parliament.
    But she also meant her mother and herself. Politics was a family matter.
    As long as she could remember she had breathed the air of politics, and had heard it discussed at every meal. At the age when other girls were still playing with dolls she knew who was in, who was out, who was 'the coming man', who had offended whom, whose bill would pass, whose bill did not stand a chance.
    "We're sure to win, my dear. I've had several very interesting meetings with Mr. Gladstone – "
    "Oh, dear Uncle William! How is he?"
    "Eager to get on with the job. And between you and me, there have been certain suggestions – "
    He stopped and seemed to become unaccountably shy.
    "You'll be a