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list　of　prisoners　as　〃missing；〃　and　Corporal　Mallon　was　grieved；
but　refused　to　consider　himself　responsible。　　Sir　Charles　himself
had　allowed　the　vagrant　unusual　freedom；　and　the　vagrant　had
taken　advantage　of　it；　and　probably　escaped　to　the　hills；　or　up
the　river　to　the　logwood　camp。

〃Telegraph　a　description　of　him　to　Inspector　Garrett；〃　Sir
Charles　directed；　〃and　to　the　heads　of　all　up　stations。　　And　when
he　returns；　bring　him　to　me。〃

So　great　was　his　zeal　that　Sir　Charles　further　offered　to　join
Mr。　Collier　in　his　search　among　the　outlying　plantations；　but　Mr。
Collier　preferred　to　work　alone。　　He　accordingly　set　out　at　once；
armed　with　letters　to　the　different　district　inspectors；　and　in
his　absence　delegated　to　Sir　Charles　the　pleasant　duty　of　caring
for　the　wants　of　Miss　Cameron　and　his　wife。　　Sir　Charles　regarded
the　latter　as　deserving　of　all　sympathy；　for　Mr。　Collier；　in　his
efforts　to　conceal　the　fact　from　the　Governor　that　Florence
Cameron　was　responsible；　or　in　any　way　concerned；　in　the
disappearance　of　the　missing　man；　had　been　too　mysterious。　　Sir
Charles　was　convinced　that　the　fugitive　had　swindled　his　brother…
in…law　and　stolen　his　sister's　jewels。

The　days　which　followed　were　to　the　Governor　days　and　nights　of
strange　discoveries。　　He　recognized　that　the　missionaries
from　the　great　outside　world　had　invaded　his　shores　and　disturbed
his　gods　and　temples。　　Their　religion　of　progress　and　activity
filled　him　with　doubt　and　unrest。

〃In　this　century；〃　Mr。　Collier　had　declared；　〃nothing　can　stand
still。　　It's　the　same　with　a　corporation；　or　a　country；　or　a　man。

We　must　either　march　ahead　or　fall　out。　　We　can't　mark　time。　
What？〃

〃Exactlycertainly　not；〃　Sir　Charles　had　answered。　　But　in　his
heart　he　knew　that　he　himself　had　been　marking　time　under　these
soft　tropical　skies　while　the　world　was　pushing　forward。　　The
thought　had　not　disturbed　him　before。　　Now　he　felt　guilty。　　He
conceived　a　sudden　intolerance；　if　not　contempt；　for　the　little
village　of　whitewashed　houses；　for　the　rafts　of　mahogany　and　of
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　towards　the　water's　edge。　　The　moonlight　fell　full　upon　them
with　all　the　splendor　of　the　tropics；　and　lit　the　night　with　a
brilliant；　dazzling　radiance。　　From　where　Miss　Cameron　sat　on　the
veranda　in　the　shadow；　Sir　Charles　could　see　only　the　white
outline　of　her　figure　and　the　indolent　movement　of　her　fan。　
Collier　had　left　his　wife　and　was　returning　slowly　towards　the
step。　　Sir　Charles　felt　that　if　he　meant　to　speak　he　must　speak
now；　and　quickly。　　He　rose　and　placed　himself　beside　her　in　the
shadow；　and　the　girl　turned　her　head　inquiringly　and　looked　up　at
him。

But　on　the　instant　the　hush　of　the　night　was　broken　by　a
sharp　challenge；　and　the　sound　of　men's　voices　raised　in　anger；
there　was　the　noise　of　a　struggle　on　the　gravel；　and　from　the
corner　of　the　house　the　two　sentries　came　running；　dragging
between　them　a　slight　figure　that　fought　and　wrestled　to　be　free。

Sir　Charles　exclaimed　with　indignant　impatience；　and　turning；
strode　quickly