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nd weak。 One had to pretend that one was not afraid of it。
Flossie had joined every society she could hear of that was working for the League of Nations。 Her hope was that it would get itself established before young Frank grew up。
〃Not that I really believe it will；〃 she confessed。 〃A draw might have disgusted us all with fighting。 As it is； half the world is dancing at Victory balls； exhibiting captured guns on every village green； and hanging father's helmet above the mantelpiece； while the other half is nursing its revenge。 Young Frank only cares for life because he is looking forward to one day driving a tank。 I've made up my mind to burn Sam's uniform； but I expect it will end in my wrapping it up in lavender and hiding it away in a drawer。 And then there will be all the books and plays。 No self…respecting heroine； for the next ten years will dream of marrying anyone but a soldier。〃
Joan laughed。 〃Difficult to get anything else； just at present；〃 she said。 〃It's the soldiers I'm looking to for help。 I don't think the men who have been there will want their sons to go。 It's the women I'm afraid of。〃
Flossie caught sight of the clock and jumped up。 〃Who was it said that woman would be the last thing man would civilize？〃 she asked。
〃It sounds like Meredith；〃 suggested Joan。 〃I am not quite sure。〃
〃Well； he's wrong； anyhow；〃 retorted Flossie。 〃It's no good our waiting for man。 He is too much afraid of us to be of any real help to us。 We shall have to do it ourselves。〃 She gave Joan a hug and was gone。
Phillips was still abroad with the Army of Occupation。 He had tried to get out of it； but had not succeeded。 He held it to be gaoler's work； and the sight of the starving populace was stirring in him a fierce anger。
He would not put up again for Parliament。 He was thinking of going back to his old work upon the Union。 〃Parliament is played out；〃 he had written her。 〃Kings and Aristocracies have served their purpose and have gone； and now the Ruling Classes； as they call themselves； must be content to hear the bell toll for them also。 Parliament was never anything more than an instrument in their hands； and never can be。 What happens？ Once in every five years you wake the people up： tell them the time has come for them to exercise their Heaven…ordained privilege of putting a cross against the names of some seven hundred gentlemen who have kindly expressed their willingness to rule over them。 After that； you send the people back to sleep； and for the next five years these seven hundred gentlemen； consulting no one but themselves； rule over the country as absolutely as ever a Caesar ruled over Rome。 What sort of Democracy is that？ Even a Labour Governmentsupposing that in spite of the Press it did win throughwhat would be its fate？ Separated from its base； imprisoned within those tradition…haunted walls； it would lose touch with the people； would become in its turn a mere oligarchy。 If the people are ever to govern they must keep their hand firmly upon the machine； not remain content with pulling a lever and then being shown the door。〃
She had sent a note by messenger to Mary Stopperton to say she was coming。 Mary had looked very fragile the last time she had seen her； just before leaving for France； and she had felt a fear。 Mary had answered in her neat； thin； quavering writing； asking her to come early in the morning。 Sometimes she was a little tired and had to lie down again。 She had been waiting for Joan。 She had a present for her。
The morning promised to be fair； and she decided to walk by way of the Embankment。 The great river with its deep； strong patience had always been a friend to her。 It was Sunday and the city was still sleeping。 The pale December sun rose above the mist as she reached the corner of Westminster Bridge； turning the river into silver and flooding the silent streets with a soft； white； tender light。
The tower of Chelsea Church brought back to her remembrance of the wheezy old clergyman who had preached there that Sunday evening； that now seemed so long ago； when her footsteps had first taken her that way by chance。 Always she had intended making inquiries and discovering his name。 Why had she never done so？ It would surely have been easy。 He was someone she had known as a child。 She had become quite convinced of that。 She could see his face close to hers as if he had lifted her up in his arms and was smiling at her。 But pride and power had looked out of his eyes then。
It was earlier than the time she had fixed in her own mind and； pausing with her elbows resting on the granite parapet； she watched the ceaseless waters returning to the sea； bearing their burden of impurities。
〃All roads lead to Calvary。〃 It was curious how the words had dwelt with her； till gradually they had become a part of her creed。 She remembered how at first they had seemed to her a threat chilling her with fear。 They had grown to be a promise； a hope held out to all。 The road to Calvary！ It was the road to life。 By the giving up of self we gained God。
And suddenly a great peace came to her。 One was not alone in the fight； God was with us： the great Comrade。 The evil and the cruelty all round her： she was no longer afraid of it。 God was coming。 Beyond the menace of the passing day； black with the war's foul aftermath of evil dreams and hatreds； she saw the breaking of the distant dawn。 The devil should not always triumph。 God was gathering His labourers。
God was conquering。 Unceasing through the ages； God's voice had crept round man； seeking entry。 Through the long darkness of that dim beginning； when man knew no law but self； unceasing God had striven： until at last one here and there； emerging from the brute； had heardhad listened to the voice of love and pity； and in that hour； unknowing； had built to God a temple in the wilderness。
Labourers together with God。 The mighty host of those who through the ages had heard the voice of God and had made answer。 The men and women in all lands who had made room in their hearts for God。 Still nameless； scattered； unknown to one another： still powerless as yet against the world's foul law of hate； they should continue to increase and multiply； until one day they should speak with God's voice and should be heard。 And a new world should be created。
God。 The tireless Spirit of eternal creation； the Spirit of Love。 What else was it that out of formlessness had shaped the spheres； had planned the orbits of the suns。 The law of gravity we named it。 What was it but another name for Love； the yearning of like for like； the calling to one another of the stars。 What else but Love had made the worlds； had gathered together the waters； had fashioned the dry land。 The cohesion of elements； so we explained it。 The clinging of like to like。 The brotherhood of the atoms。
God。 The Eternal Creator。 Out of matter； lifeless void； he had moulded His worlds； had ordered His endless firmament。 It was finished。 The greater task remained： the Universe of mind； of soul。 Out of man it should be created。 God in man and man in God： made in like image： fellow labourers together with one another：