“Yes; I like it. But I shall only use it when we are alone, lest other people should find it out. Nym!--I believe it is the name of a horrid person after all,” as Usk smiled involuntarily. “Then I shall call you by it all the same, just to punish you. Well, Nym, do you still think you must go away soon?” “Not without you. I shall want you to help me with my election when I get back to England. I’m sure I could never get through it alone.” “Oh, do you mean that I may help you--really help you--in your parliamentary work? What may I do? I know so little.” “Oh, you can help me with my speeches--look up references, and that sort of thing,” said Usk vaguely. “And you could canvass, of course.” “Canvass? But that is to ask people to vote for you, is it not? And the English great ladies allow the voters to kiss them, don’t they?” “_You_ had better not, unless you want me to fight the voters all round. No; the way of going to work nowadays is to get at the electors’ wives, and make them promise to influence their husbands.” “I see. I am to say to them, ‘You must tell your husband to vote for mine, because I am the person who knows best, and I can assure you how good he is.’” “You are nothing but a child after all,” laughed Usk. “And a few minutes ago I thought you had turned into a woman who was quite a stranger to me.” “A child for you to love, and a woman to love you,” said Helene, very low. CHAPTER XVI. BEYOND RECALL. “Oh, Nym, I am so frightened!” “Why? About what your father will say, do you mean?” “No; it’s something I have done.” “What wickedness have you been up to now? An infant like you!--aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” “Not exactly ashamed,” said Helene seriously, “but terrified.” “Hadn’t you better confess? My mind is duly prepared for horrors.” “If you’ll call me Little Nell, I will.” “Little schemer, I think. Well, Little Nell?” Helene put her hand through his arm, and clasped his wrist tightly. “It seemed such a splendid idea when it came to me first. It was the very evening that we were--engaged, you know, and I was so happy I could not sleep, and rather frightened, too, because mamma had been sitting by me and crying, and saying all the relations would be so angry. Then I remembered that the Emperor Sigismund was hunting near Neuburg this week, and I thought I would write to him, and get him on our side. And I did.” “How frightfully enterprising! And what does he say?” “There hasn’t been time for an answer yet. But last night it seemed to me that it would have been so much better not to write to him until--until everything was over, you know. And the answer might come to-day, if he wrote at once. And I am so frightened. I don’t know what to do.” “It strikes me you’re much too independent for an engaged young woman. You deserve a good scolding. Why didn’t you say anything to me?”