“Whatever is most for the public good.” said Madeleine, gravely.
Ratcliffe looked into her face with such undisguised delight—there was so little possibility of mistaking or ignoring the expression of his eyes, that she shrank back with a certain shock. She was not prepared for so open a demonstration. He hardened his features at once, and went on:
“But what is most for the public good?”
“That you know better than I,” said Madeleine; “only one thing is clear to me. If you let yourself be ruled by your private feelings, you will make a greater mistake than he. Now I must go, for I have visits to make. The next time I come, Mr. Ratcliffe, you must keep your word better.”
When they next met, Ratcliffe read to her a part of his reply to Mr. Grimes, which ran thus: “It is the lot of every party leader to suffer from attacks and to commit errors. It is true, as the President says, that I have been no exception to this law. Believing as I do that great results can only be accomplished by great parties, I have uniformly yielded my own personal opinions where they have failed to obtain general assent. I shall continue to follow this course, and the President may with perfect confidence count upon my disinterested support of all party measures, even though I may not be consulted in originating them.”
Mrs. Lee listened attentively, and then said: “Have you never refused to go with your party?”
“Never!” was Ratcliffe's firm reply.
Madeleine still more thoughtfully inquired again: “Is nothing more powerful than party allegiance?”
“Nothing, except national allegiance,” replied Ratcliffe, still more firmly.