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be much of a man even at that。 Those in the middle were encouraged by shouts from others in the crowd； who urged them to ‘Go for him' and at last … almost at the instant of Barrington's arrival … one of the heroes； unable to contain himself any longer； lifted a heavy stick and struck Owen savagely across the face。 The sight of the blood maddened the others； and in an instant everyone who could get within striking distance joined furiously in the onslaught； reaching eagerly over each other's shoulders； showering blows upon him with sticks and fists； and before Barrington could reach his side； they had Owen down on the ground； and had begun to use their boots upon him。
Barrington felt like a wild beast himself； as he fiercely fought his way through the crowd； spuming them to right and left with fists and elbows。 He reached the centre in time to seize the uplifted arm of the man who had led the attack and wrenching the stick from his hand； he felled him to the ground with a single blow。 The remainder shrank back； and meantime the crowd was augmented by others who came running up。
Some of these newcomers were Liberals and some Tories； and as these did not know what the row was about they attacked each other。 The Liberals went for those who wore Tory colours and vice versa； and in a few seconds there was a general free fight； though most of the original crowd ran away； and in the confusion that ended； Barrington and Owen got out of the crowd without further molestation。
Monday was the last day of the election … polling day … and in consequence of the number of motor cars that were flying about； the streets were hardly safe for ordinary traffic。 The wealthy persons who owned these carriages。。。
The result of the poll was to be shown on an illuminated sign at the Town Hall； at eleven o'clock that night； and long before that hour a vast crowd gathered in the adjacent streets。 About ten o'clock it began to rain； but the crowd stood its ground and increased in numbers as the time went by。 At a quarter to eleven the rain increased to a terrible downpour； but the people remained waiting to know which hero had conquered。 Eleven o'clock came and an intense silence fell upon the crowd； whose eyes were fixed eagerly upon the window where the sign was to be exhibited。 To judge by the extraordinary interest displayed by these people； one might have thought that they expected to reap some great benefit or to sustain some great loss from the result； but of course that was not the case； for most of them knew perfectly well that the result of this election would make no more real difference to them than all the other elections that had gone before。
They wondered what the figures would be。 There were ten thousand voters on the register。 At a quarter past eleven the sign was illuminated； but the figures were not yet shown。 Next； the names of the two candidates were slid into sight； the figures were still missing； but D'Encloseland's name was on top； and a hoarse roar of triumph came from the throats of his admirers。 Then the two slides with the names were withdrawn； and the sign was again left blank。 After a time the people began to murmur at all this delay and messing about； and presently some of them began to groan and hoot。
After a few minutes the names were again slid into view； this time with Sweater's name on top； and the figures appeared immediately afterwards：
Sweater 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 4；221 D'Encloseland 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 4；200
It was several seconds before the Liberals could believe their eyes； it was too good to be true。 It is impossible to say what was the reason of the wild outburst of delighted enthusiasm that followed； but whatever the reason； whatever the benefit was that they expected to reap … there was the fact。 They were all cheering and dancing and shaking hands with each other； and some of them were so overcome with inexplicable joy that they were scarcely able to speak。 It was altogether extraordinary and unaccountable。
A few minutes after the declaration； Sweater appeared at the window and made a sort of a speech； but only fragments of it were audible to the cheering crowd who at intervals caught such phrases as ‘Slashing Blow'； ‘Sweep the Country'； ‘Grand Old Liberal Flag'； and so on。 Next D'Encloseland appeared and he was seen to shake hands with Mr Sweater； whom he referred to as ‘My friend'。
When the two ‘friends' disappeared from the window； the part of the Liberal crowd that was not engaged in hand…to…hand fights with their enemies … the Tories … made a rush to the front entrance of the Town Hall； where Sweater's carriage was waiting； and as soon as he had placed his plump rotundity inside； they took the horses out and amid frantic cheers harnessed themselves to it instead and dragged it through the mud and the pouring rain all the way to ‘The Cave' … most of them were accustomed to acting as beasts of burden … where he again addressed a few words to them from the porch。
Afterwards as they walked home saturated with rain and covered from head to foot with mud； they said it was a great victory for the cause of progress！
Truly the wolves have an easy prey。
Chapter 49
The Undesired
That evening about seven o'clock； whilst Easton was down…town seeing the last of the election； Ruth's child was born。
After the doctor was gone； Mary Linden stayed with her during the hours that elapsed before Easton came home； and downstairs Elsie and Charley … who were allowed to stay up late to help their mother because Mrs Easton was ill … crept about very quietly； and conversed in hushed tones as they washed up the tea things and swept the floor and tidied the kitchen。
Easton did not return until after midnight； and all through the intervening hours； Ruth； weak and tired； but unable to sleep； was lying in bed with the child by her side。 Her wide…open eyes appeared unnaturally large and brilliant； in contrast with the almost death…like paleness of her face； and there was a look of fear in them； as she waited and listened for the sound of Easton's footsteps。
Outside； the silence of the night was disturbed by many unusual noises： a far…off roar； as of the breaking of waves on a seashore； arose from the direction of the town； where the last scenes of the election were being enacted。 Every few minutes motor cars rushed past the house at a furious rate； and the air was full of the sounds of distant shouts and singing。
Ruth listened and started nervously at every passing footstep。 Those who can imagine the kind of expression there would be upon the face of a hunted thief； who； finding himself encompassed and brought to bay by his pursuers； looks wildly around in a vain search for some way of escape； may be able to form some conception of the terror…stricken way in which she listened to every sound that penetrated into the stillness of the dimly lighted room。 And ever and again； when her wandering glance reverted to the frail atom of humanity nestling by her side； her brows contracted and her eyes filled with bitter tears； as she weakly reached out her trembling hand to adjust its coverings； faintly murmuring； with quivering lips and a bursting heart； some words of endearment and pity。 And then … alarmed by the footsteps of some chance passerby； or by the closing of the door of a neighbouring house； and fearing that it was the sound she had been waiting for and dreading through all those weary hours； she would turn in terror to Mary Linden； sitting in the chair at the bedside； sewing by the light of the shaded lamp； and take hold of her arm as if seeking protection from some impending danger。
It was after twelve o'clock when Easton came home。 Ruth recognized his footsteps before he reached the house； and her heart seemed to stop beating when she heard the clang of the gate； as it closed after he had passed through。
It had been Mary's intention to withdraw before he came into the room； but the sick woman clung to her in such evident fear； and entreated her so earnestly not to go away； that she remained。
It was with a feeling of keen disappointment that Easton noticed how Ruth shrank away from him； for he had expected and hoped； that after this； they would be good friends once more； but he tried to think that it was because she was ill； and when she would not let him touch the child lest he should awaken it； he agreed without question。
The next day； and for the greater part of the time during the next fortnight； Ruth was in a raging fever。 There were intervals when although weak and exhausted； she was in her right mind； but most of the time she was quite unconscious of her surroundings and often delirious。 Mrs Owen came every day to help to look after her； because Mary just then had a lot of needlework to do； and consequently could only give part of her time to Ruth； who； in her delirium； lived and told over and over again all the sorrow and suffering of the last few months。 And so the two friends； watching by her bedside； learned her dreadful secret。
Sometimes … in her delirium … she seemed possessed of an intense and terrible loathing for the poor little creature she had brought into the world； and was wit