CHAPTER VII.
HOW RICHARD GAINED IN KNOWLEDGE Congress came together at noon upon the first Monday in December, and obedient to the mandate of the caucus Mr.Frost was made Speaker Frost.
The eruptive Mr.Hawke wore an injured air, and when the drawing for seats took place, selected one in a far back row, as though retiring from public life.

Mr.Hawke subsequently refused to serve as chairman of the triangular committee named to notify the President that the House had convened, and his declination was accepted by Speaker Frost, who calmly filled the place with a member whom Mr.Hawke despised.

Then the House swung into the channel, and went plowing ahead upon the business of the session, and in forty-eight hours, Mr.Hawke, forgotten, had ceased to be important to any save himself.

The whole of that first Monday night Speaker Frost put in with Senator Hanway, in the latter's study, revising committee lists and settling chairmanships with the purpose of advancing the White House chances of Senator Hanway and destroying those of Governor Obstinate.
Although Congress had begun its session, no change was made in those morning calls of Richard, who came religiously at eleven to listen to Senator Hanway and look at Dorothy.

The latter young lady was never absent from these interviews; she had conceived a wonderful interest in politics, and gave her "Uncle Pat" no peace.