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An old man with a long grey beard； standing close to his elbow；
murmured：
〃'Tis anxious workI wouldn't ha' missed this for anything in the
world。〃
〃Fine； eh？〃 answered Courtier。
〃Aye；〃 said the old man； 〃'tis fine。 I've not seen the like o' this
since the great yearforty…eight。 There they arethe aristocrats！〃
Following the direction of that skinny hand Courtier saw on a balcony
Lord and Lady Valleys； side by side； looking steadily down at the
crowd。 There too； leaning against a window and talking to someone
behind； was Barbara。 The old man went on muttering； and Courtier
could see that his eyes had grown very bright； his whole face
transfigured by intense hostility； he felt drawn to this old
creature； thus moved to the very soul。 Then he saw Barbara looking
down at him； with her hand raised to her temple to show that she saw
his bandaged head。 He had the presence of mind not to lift his hat。
The old man spoke again。
〃You wouldn't remember forty…eight； I suppose。 There was a feeling
in the people thenwe would ha' died for things in those days。 I'm
eighty…four；〃 and he held his shaking hand up to his breast； 〃but the
spirit's alive here yet！ God send the Radical gets in！〃 There was
wafted from him a scent as of potatoes。
Far behind； at the very edge of the vast dark throng； some voices
began singing： 〃Way down upon the Swanee ribber。〃 The tune floated
forth； ceased； spurted up once more； and died。
Then； in the very centre of the square a stentorian baritone roared
forth： 〃Should auld acquaintance be forgot！〃
The song swelled； till every kind of voice； from treble to the old
Chartist's quavering bass； was chanting it； here and there the crowd
heaved with the movement of linked arms。 Courtier found the soft
fingers of a young woman in his right hand； the old Chartist's dry
trembling paw in his left。 He himself sang loudly。 The grave and
fearful music sprang straight up into they air； rolled out right and
left； and was lost among the hills。 But it had no sooner died away
than the same huge baritone yelled 〃God save our gracious King！〃 The
stature of the crowd seemed at once to leap up two feet； and from
under that platform of raised hats rose a stupendous shouting。
〃This；〃 thought Courtier； 〃is religion！〃
They were singing even on the balconies； by the lamplight he could
see Lord Valleys mouth not opened quite enough； as though his voice
were just a little ashamed of coming out； and Barbara with her head
flung back against the pillar； pouring out her heart。 No mouth in
all the crowd was silent。 It was as though the soul of the English
people were escaping from its dungeon of reserve； on the pinions of
that chant。
But suddenly； like a shot bird closing wings； the song fell silent
and dived headlong back to earth。 Out from under the clock…face had
moved a thin dark figure。 More figures came behind。 Courtier could
see Miltoun。 A voice far away cried： 〃Up； Chilcox！〃 A huge：
〃Husill〃 followed； then such a silence； that the sound of an engine
shunting a mile away could be heard plainly。
The dark figure moved forward； and a tiny square of paper gleamed out
white against the black of his frock…coat。
〃Ladies and gentlemen。 Result of the Poll：
Miltoun Four thousand eight hundred and ninety…eight。 Chilcox Four
thousand eight hundred and two。〃
The silence seemed to fall to earth； and break into a thousand
pieces。 Through the pandemonium of cheers and groaning； Courtier
with all his strength forced himself towards the balcony。 He could
see Lord Valleys leaning forward with a broad smile； Lady Valleys
passing her hand across her eyes； Barbara with her hand in
Harbinger's； looking straight into his face。 He stopped。 The old
Chartist was still beside him； tears rolling down his cheeks into his
beard。
Courtier saw Miltoun come forward； and stand； unsmiling； deathly
pale。
PART II
CHAPTER I
At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little
Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys
House； London。 She climbed slowly； in the very middle； an extremely
small white figure on those wide and shining stairs； counting them
aloud。 Their number was never alike two days running； which made
them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life。
Coming to that spot where they branched； she paused to consider which
of the two flights she had used last； and unable to remember； sat
down。 She was the bearer of a message。 It had been new when she
started； but was already comparatively old； and likely to become
older； in view of a design now conceived by her of travelling the
whole length of the picture gallery。 And while she sat maturing this
plan； sunlight flooding through a large window drove a white
refulgence down into the heart of the wide polished space of wood and
marble； whence she had come。 The nature of little Ann habitually
rejected fairies and all fantastic things； finding them quite too
much in the air； and devoid of sufficient reality and 'go'； and this
refulgence； almost unearthly in its travelling glory； passed over her
small head and played strangely with the pillars in the hall； without
exciting in her any fancies or any sentiment。 The intention of
discovering what was at the end of the picture gallery absorbed the
whole of her essentially practical and active mind。 Deciding on the
left…hand flight of stairs； she entered that immensely long； narrow；
andwith blinds drawnrather dark saloon。 She walked carefully；
because the floor was very slippery here； and with a kind of
seriousness due partly to the darkness and partly to the pictures。
They were indeed； in this light； rather formidable； those old
Caradocs black； armoured creatures； some of them； who seemed to eye
with a sort of burning； grim； defensive greed the small white figure
of their descendant passing along between them。 But little Ann； who
knew they were only pictures； maintained her course steadily； and
every now and then； as she passed one who seemed to her rather uglier
than the others； wrinkled her sudden little nose。 At the end； as she
had thought； appeared a door。 She opened it； and passed on to a
landing。 There was a stone staircase in the corner； and there were
two doors。 It would be nice to go up the staircase； but it would
also be nice to open the doors。 Going towards the first door； with a
little thrill； she turned the handle。 It was one of those rooms；
necessary in houses； for which she had no great liking； and closing
this door rather loudly she opened the other one； finding herself in
a chamber not resembling the rooms downstairs； which were all high
and nicely gilded； but more like where she had lessons； low； and
filled with books and leather chairs。 From the end of the room which
she could not see； she heard a sound as of someone kissing something；
and instinct had almost made her turn to go away when the word：
〃Hallo！〃 suddenly opened her lips。 And almost directly she saw that
Granny and Grandpapa were standing by the fireplace。 Not knowing
quite whether they were glad to see her； she went forward and began
at once：