But his passionate antagonism to the communistic theory, all the more intense through suppression, strengthened his fantastic faith.

Still, the transient smile of a marchioness and the political economy of a sour-avised operative are not enough to keep alive the romance of underfed, ill-clad, overdriven childhood.

And after a while he was deprived even of the latter consolation, his friend being shifted to another end of the factory.

In despair he turned to Ada, the eldest of the little Buttons, who now had reached years of comparative discretion, and strove to interest her in his dreams, veiling his identity under a fictitious name; but Ada, an unimaginative and practical child with a growing family to look after, either listened stupidly or consigned him, in the local vernacular, to perdition.
"But suppose 'it was me that was the unknown prince?
Supposing it was me I've been talking about all the time?
Supposing it was me that went away and came back in a gold coach and six horses, with a duke's daughter all over diamonds by my side, what would tha say ?" "I think tha art nowt but a fool," said the elderly child of ten, "and, if mother heard thee, she'd lamm the life out of thee." Paul had the sickening sensation of the man who has confided the high secrets of his soul to coarsefibred woman.

He turned away, darkly conscious of having magnanimously given Ada a chance to mount with him into the upper air, which opportunity she, daughter of earth, had, in her purblind manner, refused.