While digging deep into the causes of his former discontent, he had come to strike his spade upon the rock foundations whereon all this complicated superstructure of English society and national life was builded. He saw that every nobleman inherited with his title and his lands a responsibility for the welfare of the whole people, from the poorest laborer in the ditch or the coal mine, to the head wearing the crown; and that it was the blindness of individuals like himself or his uncle before him, their misuse or unscrupulous indifference to and abuse of power, which had brought about those conditions under which the masses were writhing, and against which they were crying out. He saw that it was only by the earnest efforts of the few who did understand--the few who were not indifferent--that the stability of English government was still her glory. At last he rose and lifted his arms high above his head, then dropped them to his side. "I see." He held up his head and looked off as he had done when he stood on the prow of the steamship, with the salt breeze tossing his hair. "A little of this came to me as I crossed the ocean, when I saw the green slopes of England again. I knew I loved her, and the old feeling of impotence that hounded me in the past, when I could do nothing but rebel, slipped from me. I felt what it might be to have power--to become effective instead of being obliged to chafe under the yoke of an imposed submission to things which are wrong--things which those who are in power might set right if they would. I believe, for a moment, Mr. Stretton, I felt it all." He paused and bowed his head. All at once in the midst of his exaltation, he saw Cassandra standing white and still, as he had seen her on the hilltop before their little cabin, looking after him when he bade her good-by; and just as he then turned and went swiftly back to her, so now in his soul he turned to her yearningly and took her to his breast. Still penetrating the sweet, white halo of this vision, he heard the voice of Mr. Stretton deferentially droning on. "And with your resources--the wealth which, with a little care and thought just now at this crucial moment, will be yours--" Still David stood with bowed head. "It is as if you were predestined, my lord, to step in at a critical time of your country's need--with brains, education, conscience, and wealth--with every obstacle swept away." Still before him stood Cassandra, white and silent; he could see only her. "Every obstacle swept away," repeated the lawyer. "And Cassandra, God help her and me." David slowly turned, lifted a glass of wine from the table, and drank it. "Well, so be it, so be it," he said aloud. "We'll join mother and Laura." At the door he paused, "You spoke of education--the learning of a physician is but little in the line of statesmanship. How soon will I be expected to take my seat?"