But it was po'try, sonny, all the time." The old man, thus started on reminiscence, continued, somewhat garrulous, and Paul, sunk in the armchair by the fire, listened indulgently, waiting for Jane.

She, meanwhile, was occupied upstairs and in the library answering telephone messages and sending word out to callers by the maid.

For, on the heels of Paul, as Barney Bill had said, many had come on errand of inquiry and condolence and all the news agencies and newspapers of London seemed to be on the telephone.
Some of the latter tried for speech with the newly elected candidate whom they understood to be in the house, but Jane denied them firmly.
She had had some training as a politician's private secretary.

At last the clanging bell ceased ringing, and the maid ceased running to and from the street door, and the doctor had come and given his certificate and gone, and Jane joined the pair in the dining-room.

She brought in from the hall a tray of visiting cards and set it on the table.