"Quite possibly," Gore said, with decision. Rendel said nothing. "Oh, father!" said Rachel. "I wish that you were in Parliament! Suppose you were in the Government!" "Ah, well, my life as you know, was otherwise filled up," said Sir William, with a sigh; "but in that case the Imperialists perhaps might not have found everything such plain sailing." And so much had he penetrated himself with the conviction of what he was saying, that he felt himself, as he sat there opposite Rendel, whose wisdom and sagacity in reality so far exceeded his own, to be in the position of the older, wiser man of great influence and many opportunities condescending to explain his own career to an obscure novice. Rendel looked across at Rachel sitting opposite to him, listening to what her father said with her customary air of sweet and gentle deference, and then smiling at himself; and again he inwardly vowed that, for her sake, he would endure the daily pinpricks that are almost as difficult to bear in the end as one good sword-thrust. "I must say it will be interesting to see who goes out as Governor of British Zambesiland," he said presently, looking up from the paper. "That will be a big job if you like." "Let's hope they will find a big man to do it," said Sir William. "I heard to-day," said Rendel, "that it would probably be Belmont." "Well, he'll be a firebrand Governor after Stamfordham's own heart," said Gore. "It's absurd sending all these young men out to these important posts." "That is rather Stamfordham's theory," said Rendel--"to have youngish men, I mean." "If he would confine himself to theories," said Sir William, "it would be better for England at this moment." "It might, however, interfere with his practical use as a Foreign Secretary," Rendel was about to say, but he checked the words on his tongue. After dinner that evening he remained downstairs under pretext of writing some letters, while Rachel proposed to her father to give her a lesson in chess.