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logwood that bumped against the pier…heads； for the sacks of
coffee piled high like barricades under the corrugated zinc sheds
along the wharf。 Each season it had been his pride to note the
increase in these exports。 The development of the resources of
his colony had been a work in which he had felt that the
Colonial Secretary took an immediate interest。 He had believed
that he was one of the important wheels of the machinery which
moved the British Empire： and now； in a day； he was undeceived。
It was forced upon him that to the eyes of the outside world he
was only a greengrocer operating on a large scale； he provided
the British public with coffee for its breakfast； with drugs for
its stomach； and with strange woods for its dining…room furniture
and walking…sticks。 He combated this ignominious
characterization of his position indignantly。 The new arrivals
certainly gave him no hint that they considered him so lightly。
This thought greatly comforted him； for he felt that in some way
he was summoning to his aid all of his assets and resources to
meet an expert and final valuation。 As he ranged them before him
he was disturbed and happy to find that the value he placed upon
them was the value they would have in the eyes of a young girl
not a girl of the shy； mother…obeying； man…worshipping English
type； but a girl such as Miss Cameron seemed to be； a girl who
could understand what you were trying to say before you said
it； who could take an interest in rates of exchange and preside
at a dinner table； who was charmingly feminine and clever； and
who was respectful of herself and of others。 In fact； he
decided； with a flush； that Miss Cameron herself was the young
girl he had in his mind。
〃Why not？〃 he asked。
The question came to him in his room； the sixth night of their
visit； and he strode over to the long pier…glass and stood
studying himself critically for the first time in years。 He was
still a fine…looking； well…kept man。 His hair was thin； but that
fact did not show； and his waist was lost； but riding and tennis
would set that right。 He had means outside of his official
salary； and there was the title； such as it was。 Lady Greville
the wife of the birthday knight sounded as well as Lady Greville
the marchioness。 And Americans cared for these things。 He
doubted whether this particular American would do so； but he was
adding up all he had to offer； and that was one of the assets。
He was sure she would not be content to remain mistress of
the Windless Isles。 Nor； indeed； did he longer care to be master
there； now that he had inhaled this quick； stirring breath from
the outer world。 He would resign； and return and mix with the
world again。 He would enter Parliament； a man so well acquainted
as himself with the Gold Coast of Africa and with the trade of
the West Indies must always be of value in the Lower House。 This
value would be recognized； no doubt； and he would become at first
an Under…Secretary for the Colonies； and then； in time； Colonial
Secretary and a cabinet minister。 She would like that； he
thought。 And after that place had been reached； all things were
possible。 For years he had not dreamed such dreamsnot since he
had been a clerk in the Foreign Office。 They seemed just as
possible now as they had seemed real then； and just as near。 He
felt it was all absolutely in his own hands。
He descended to the dining…room with the air of a man who already
felt the cares of high responsibility upon his shoulders。 His
head was erect and his chest thrown forward。 He was ten
years younger； his manner was alert； assured； and gracious。 As
he passed through the halls he was impatient of the familiar
settings of Government House； they seemed to him like the
furnishings of a hotel where he had paid his bill； and where his
luggage was lying strapped for departure in the hallway。
In his library he saw on his table a number of papers lying open
waiting for his signature； the dog…tax among the others。 He
smiled to remember how important it had seemed to him in the
pastin that past of indolence and easy content。 Now he was on
fire to put this rekindled ambition to work； to tell the woman
who had lighted it that it was all from her and for her； that
without her he had existed； that now he had begun to live。
They had never found him so delighful｛sic｝ as he appeared that
night。 He was like a man on the eve of a holiday。 He made a
jest of his past efforts； he made them see； as he now saw it for
the first time； that side of the life of the Windless Isles which
was narrow and petty； even ridiculous。 He talked of big men in a
big way； he criticised； and expounded； and advanced his own
theories of government and the proper control of an empire。
Collier； who had returned from his unsuccessful search of the
plantations； shook his head。
〃It's a pity you are not in London now；〃 he said； sincerely。
〃They need some one there who has been on the spot。 They can't
direct the colonies from what they know of them in Whitehall。〃
Sir Charles fingered the dinner cloth nervously； and when he
spoke； fixed his eyes anxiously upon Miss Cameron。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； 〃I have been thinking of doing that very
thing； of resigning my post here and going back； entering
Parliament； and all the rest of it。〃
His declaration met with a unanimous chorus of delight。 Miss
Cameron nodded her head with eager approval。
〃Yes； if I were a man； that is where I should wish to be；〃 she
said； 〃at the heart of it。 Why； whatever you say in the House of
Commons is heard all over the world the next morning。〃
Sir Charles felt the blood tingle in his pulses。 He had not been
so stirred in years。 Her words ran to his head like wine。
Mr。 Collier raised his glass。
〃Here's to our next meeting；〃 he said； 〃on the terrace of the
House of Commons。〃
But Miss Cameron interrupted。 〃No； to the Colonial Secretary；〃
she amended。
〃Oh yes；〃 they assented； rising； and so drank his health； smiling
down upon him with kind； friendly glances and good…will。
〃To the Colonial Secretary；〃 they said。 Sir Charles clasped the
arms of his chair tightly with his hands； his eyes were half
closed； and his lips pressed into a grim； confident smile。 He
felt that a single word from her would make all that they
suggested possible。 If she cared for such things； they were
hers； he had them to give； they were ready lying at her feet。 He
knew that the power had always been with him； lying dormant in
his heart and brain。 It had only waited for the touch of the
Princess to wake it into life。
The American visitors were to sail for the mainland the next day；
but he had come to know them so well in the brief period of
their visit that he felt he dared speak to her that same night。
At least he could give her some word that would keep him in her
mind until they met again in London； or until she had considered
her answer。 He could not expect her to answer at once。 She
could take much time。 What else had he to do now but to wait for
her answer？ It was now all that made life。
Collier and his wife had left the veranda and had crossed the
lawn