"Haven't some more people arrived, Cousin Isabel? I thought
I heard a carriage while I was dressing."
"Yes; Miss Vincent and three men came by the late train."
"All Labor members?" asked Alicia, with a laugh.
Mrs. Fotheringham explained, with some tartness, that only one of the
three was a Labor member--Mr. Barton. Of the other two, one was Edgar
Frobisher, the other Mr. McEwart, a Liberal M.P., who had just won a
hotly contested bye-election. At the name of Edgar Frobisher, Miss
Drake's countenance showed some animation. She inquired if he had been
doing anything madder than usual. Mrs. Fotheringham replied, without
enthusiasm, that she knew nothing about his recent doings--nor about Mr.
McEwart, who was said, however, to be of the right stuff. Mr. Barton, on
the other hand, "is a _great_ friend of mine--and a most remarkable man.
Oliver has been very lucky to get him."
Alicia inquired whether he was likely to appear in dress clothes.
"Certainly not. He never does anything out of keeping with his
class--and he knows that we lay no stress on that kind of thing." This,
with another glance at the elegant Paris frock which adorned the person
of Alicia--a frock, in Mrs.
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