"I think I shall kiss you," he said. "Uncle James and Aunt Anna are in the next room." "I don't want to kiss either Uncle James or Aunt Anna." "They might come." "I defy them--yes, I bid defiance even to a Presidential nominee." He put his arm around her waist and kissed her. "You know that he hasn't had time to come." "Then I give him another chance. I defy that terrible man again. Yes, I defy him twice, thrice, and more times." She struggled a little, and her cheeks flamed, but she thought how fine, tall, and masterful he was, and how long it was since she had seen him--it had not really been long. "Sylvia," he said, "this is the next best day." "The next best day?" wonderingly. "The next best day to the one on which we shall be married. I think I shall defy your terrible uncle again." And she blushed redder than ever. As a matter of fact the "terrible uncle," hearing a step in the hall, came to the door of his room and saw this defiance issued to him not only once, but twice. Whereupon he promptly went back into his own room, shut the door, and said to his wife, "Anna, you must not go into the hall for at least ten minutes." He remembered some meetings of his own, and Mrs. Grayson, although she had not looked into the hall, understood perfectly. Presently Sylvia, keeping herself well into the background, showed Harley into the parlor, and he paid his respects to Mrs. Grayson, who was sincerely glad to see him again. She looked upon him now as one of the family. "King" Plummer came before long, and by-and-by he and Harley went into the town to seek political news. "But I'll be back soon," he said to Sylvia. "And I'll be at the door when you come," she said to him. They did not spend more than an hour in the town, and when they returned the other correspondents were with them. The day had not improved, the lowering clouds still stalked across the horizon, and the wind came cold and sharp out of the northwest. "I've had a telegram from New York saying that a great vote is being polled," said Hobart, "and I've no doubt it's the case throughout the East. Yet Jimmy Grayson is bound to sit at home helpless while all this great battle is going on." "He has done his work already," said Harley; "and now it is the rank and file who count." There was no sign of gloom at the Grayson home. The candidate, refreshed, and with his half-dozen young children around him, was unfeignedly happy, while Mrs. Grayson, hovering near her husband, who had been practically lost to her for, lo! these many months, showed the same joy and relief. She received the group with genuine warmth--her husband's friends were hers--and bade them make the house their home until the fight was over. Sylvia greeted them as old comrades, which, in fact, they were. A room with tables for writing was already set apart for their use.