There was an ominous silence about the counting table, and eyes wandered jumpily watching for Jimmy’s next appearance. They all started at sounds beyond the door, and when the boy did appear lungs went flat for want of air. Two of the next three local returns were country and one was bush. They left Roger with a lead of thirty-seven.
Groans went up as they thought they were likely to lose by so little. The last country result was known to be very small, only about a dozen, while the bush was probably a hundred. They could not tell now.
Roger buried his face in his hands.
Bob went on opening the Auckland telegrams.
“By Jove! The Opposition’s in! Massey’s got a majority of four certain seats, with others leading well!”
“And Haines and Sloan are both in,” added Valerie.
Even the personal was forgotten at this great news. His friends said the next day that Roger was sublime in his darkest hour. He forgot that he was about to lose and led the cheers for the new premier. For several minutes the room was in an uproar, and the people outside thought it meant Roger’s success and heads were stuck in enquiringly. The excitement spread fast throughout the building. At first men could not believe that the old Liberal Party, with its extraordinary record of twenty-one consecutive years in power, could possibly be down. And when the news was put up on the screen hysterical roars shook the town. There were many in the crowd who cared more for this than for the return even of their local candidate. The picture of Mr. Massey, with the words “premier of New Zealand,” scrawled in underneath, was shown again, and it was a matter for astonishment that anyone had voices left to welcome it.
But in the little room the success of the party only
