decree that none but a Labour man shall stand by them. Do you guess what that means? It means that the masses are to "exploit" talent and genius to-morrow, just as the classes "exploit" them to-day, for the profit and pleasure of the "exploiters"; and once more the weary, heart-sick web shall be spun by the stupid spider, and Nature shall sit, savage and sardonic, enthroned on our bones, and drinking our blood from her cups of gold, while Time in the grey depths of space waits in his lethargic stupor till she too falls prone in an everlasting oblivion.'
There was a long pause, that grew into a silence, before Hastings heaved a sigh and rose slowly to his feet.
'Jack,' he said sadly, standing gazing at the now ever-broadening and intensifying dawnlight, 'I asked you to tell me truly and sincerely, as from man to man, from soul to soul, whether your life-work satisfied your conscience. Let me speak to you now as I desired you to speak to me, and as I believe you did speak—as you have just spoken. Do I feel that the cause for which I have struggled and lived, and for which I shall, in all human probability, yet die—do I, any more than you, feel, in my heart of hearts and mind of minds, that it will equal our hope and faith in it? I cannot answer. Yes. That cause, I too feel sure, will win—it is bound to win—
