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He seemed to be more interested in looking at her when he thought she was not noticing。 That little faint vague fear came back to her and stayed with her； but brought no quickening of her pulse。 It was a fear of something ugly。 She had the feeling they were both acting； that everything depended upon their not forgetting their parts。 In handing things to one another； they were both of them so careful that their hands should not meet and touch。
They walked together back to Westminster and wished each other a short good…night upon what once had been their common doorstep。 With her latchkey in her hand； she turned and watched his retreating figure； and suddenly a wave of longing seized her to run after him and call him backto see his eyes light up and feel the pressure of his hands。 It was only by clinging to the railings and counting till she was sure he had entered his own house round the corner and closed the door behind him； that she restrained herself。
It was a frightened face that looked at her out of the glass； as she stood before it taking off her hat。
She decided that their future meetings should be at his own house。 Mrs。 Phillips's only complaint was that she knocked at the door too seldom。
〃I don't know what I should do without you； I really don't；〃 confessed the grateful lady。 〃If ever I become a Prime Minister's wife； it's you I shall have to thank。 You've got so much courage yourself； you can put the heart into him。 I never had any pluck to spare myself。〃
She concluded by giving Joan a hug； accompanied by a sloppy but heartfelt kiss。
She would stand behind Phillips's chair with her fat arms round his neck； nodding her approval and encouragement； while Joan； seated opposite； would strain every nerve to keep her brain fixed upon the argument； never daring to look at poor Phillips's wretched face； with its pleading； apologetic eyes； lest she should burst into hysterical laughter。 She hoped she was being helpful and inspiring！ Mrs。 Phillips would assure her afterwards that she had been wonderful。 As for herself； there were periods when she hadn't the faintest idea about what she was talking。
Sometimes Mrs。 Phillips； called away by domestic duty； would leave them； returning full of excuses just as they had succeeded in forgetting her。 It was evident she was under the impression that her presence was useful to them； making it easier for them to open up their minds to one another。
〃Don't you be put off by his seeming a bit unresponsive；〃 Mrs。 Phillips would explain。 〃He's shy with women。 What I'm trying to do is to make him feel you are one of the family。〃
〃And don't you take any notice of me；〃 further explained the good woman； 〃when I seem to be in opposition； like。 I chip in now and then on purpose； just to keep the ball rolling。 It stirs him up； a bit of contradictoriness。 You have to live with a man before you understand him。〃
One morning Joan received a letter from Phillips； marked immediate。 He informed her that his brain was becoming addled。 He intended that afternoon to give it a draught of fresh air。 He would be at the Robin Hood gate in Richmond Park at three o'clock。 Perhaps the gods would be good to him。 He would wait there for half an hour to give them a chance； anyway。
She slipped the letter unconsciously into the bosom of her dress； and sat looking out of the window。 It promised to be a glorious day； and London was stifling and gritty。 Surely no one but an unwholesome…minded prude could jib at a walk across a park。 Mrs。 Phillips would be delighted to hear that she had gone。 For the matter of that； she would tell herwhen next they met。
Phillips must have seen her getting off the bus； for he came forward at once from the other side of the gate； his face radiant with boyish delight。 A young man and woman； entering the park at the same time； looked at them and smiled sympathetically。
Joan had no idea the park contained such pleasant by…ways。 But for an occasional perambulator they might have been in the heart of the country。 The fallow deer stole near to them with noiseless feet； regarding them out of their large gentle eyes with looks of comradeship。 They paused and listened while a missal thrush from a branch close to them poured out his song of hope and courage。 From quite a long way off they could still hear his clear voice singing； telling to the young and brave his gallant message。 It seemed too beautiful a day for politics。 After all； politicsone has them always with one； but the spring passes。
He saw her on to a bus at Kingston； and himself went back by train。 They agreed they would not mention it to Mrs。 Phillips。 Not that she would have minded。 The danger was that she would want to come； too； honestly thinking thereby to complete their happiness。 It seemed to be tacitly understood there would be other such excursions。
The summer was propitious。 Phillips knew his London well； and how to get away from it。 There were winding lanes in Hertfordshire； Surrey hills and commons； deep； cool； bird…haunted woods in Buckingham。 Each week there was something to look forward to； something to plan for and manoeuvre。 The sense of adventure； a spice of danger； added zest。 She still knocked frequently； as before； at the door of the hideously…furnished little house in North Street； but Mrs。 Phillips no longer oppressed her as some old man of the sea she could never hope to shake off from her shoulders。 The flabby； foolish face； robbed of its terrors； became merely pitiful。 She found herself able to be quite gentle and patient with Mrs。 Phillips。 Even the sloppy kisses she came to bear without a shudder down her spine。
〃I know you are only doing it because you sympathize with his aims and want him to win；〃 acknowledged the good lady。 〃But I can't help feeling grateful to you。 I don't feel how useless I am while I've got you to run to。〃
They still discussed their various plans for the amelioration and improvement of humanity； but there seemed less need for haste than they had thought。 The world； Joan discovered； was not so sad a place as she had judged it。 There were chubby； rogue…eyed children； whistling lads and smiling maidens； kindly men with ruddy faces； happy mothers crooning over gurgling babies。 There was no call to be fretful and vehement。 They would work together in patience and in confidence。 God's sun was everywhere。 It needed only that dark places should be opened up and it would enter。
Sometimes； seated on a lichened log； or on the short grass of some sloping hillside； looking down upon some quiet valley； they would find they had been holding hands while talking。 It was but as two happy； thoughtless children might have done。 They would look at one another with frank； clear eyes and smile。
Once； when their pathway led through a littered farm…yard； he had taken her up in his arms and carried her and she had felt a glad pride in him that he had borne her lightly as if she had been a child； looking up at her and laughing。
An old bent man paused from his work and watched them。 〃Lean more over him； missie；〃 he advised her。 〃That's the way。 Many a mile I've carried my lass like that； in flood time； and nev