"Yesterday I was my own master, at least I thought so; but now----" He looked at the Queen's face and his eyes became very bright. "Ah, yes, it is all written up on the mess-room walls-- 'I swear To reverence the Queen as if she were My conscience, and my conscience as the Queen.' Oh, how the words took hold of me this morning, as I saw them written on the walls." His face became almost beautiful as he looked at the Queen, he spoke as one inspired, and all his heart went out with the solemn words of the code of honour. He knelt at the Queen's feet, he took the Queen's hands in his, and looking up into her wondering eyes he repeated-- 'To love one maiden only, cleave to her And worship her with years of noble deeds Until I win her.' "Oh, Margaret, Margaret of England, the God I worship gave me etheric power. I thought I was omnipotent, but I made mistakes, terrible blunders, thinking I could do all the work in a week. I was in such a hurry, full of a boy's pride of service, and look at the horrors I have brought upon the world with my rash haste. What is etheric power compared with the power in a woman's eyes? I don't know how it is, but I see everything so clearly now, and all my power is nothing--nothing whatever in the eyes of the Queen. I suppose I must be in love. Am I in love?" "You mustn't," gasped the Queen, "it's not allowed. The Queen is not allowed to be a woman." He laughed, kissing her hands as he spoke. "Not if I conquer the world and lay it at the feet of the Queen?" "I don't know," Margaret smiled sadly. "I must ask my governess, and she will say, there are no precedents in the book of etiquette. We must be good and serve England." "England!" he cried, gazing into the Queen's eyes. "I love you, England. Isn't that allowed?" "Not if you put it that way, Mr. Brand. England is not a woman, but a country." "Bounded on the east by a man's love, and on the west by a man's hope, and on the north by a man's fears, and on the south by a man's faith." "But that's not geography, Mr. Brand. Please get up." "I won't unless you promise to let me love England my own way." "I can't prevent that," said Margaret, smiling. XI THE WORLD-STORM When Brand made his declaration before the Parliament night had already fallen over Europe, and although it was still broad day in the New World, the banks and exchanges were for the most part closed. But out beyond the Pacific another dawn had flamed along the Kamschatkan volcanoes, the rose flush glowed upon the snows of Fuji, a land breeze awakened the dreaming Eastern Isles, a level sun flashed diamonds in the surf of the Barrier Reef, and the bells of Australian cities rang their summons to work and prayer. So it was that the world-storm which gathered in Europe, broke first upon that far-off Commonwealth which stands at the gates of the Daybreak.