Demos

nd her soberer pace during the last ten minutes had not quite reduced the flush in her cheeks. Mutimer raised his hat with mu

overtake your brother

of what he calls his cons

n I'm here over Saturday, so

d drove away to the Wheatsheaf Inn,

arlour, where Mrs. Waltham immediately join

he interest which provincial ladies, lacking scope for

rrow. He hadn't any special reason for going to town, and was uncertai

discussion; occasionally the habit led to a passing unpleasantness of tone between himself and Mrs. Waltha

e said. 'It would have been very

a look of dismay flit across her countenance and pass into one of annoyan

tay for tea also, d

rse; why sh

hat answer she would receive. She got out of the

talk about Socialism

replied Mrs. Waltham. 'W

ted in mirt

g time, mother! It'll be Sunday, and therefore we are not t

an instant, but the Puritan

their bodies, Alfred-food and clothing

haven't long ago found some way of doing without bodies altogether. Now, I pray you, d

tiveness, as soon as her voice could be heard. 'Your Socialism is

s a harder life than the nigger-slaves. If you women could only put aside your theories and look a little at obstinate facts! You're all of

for illustrations of the vices prevalent in the last-mentioned class. In talking he always paced the room, hands in pockets, and at times fairly stammered in his endeavour to hit upon sufficiently trenchant epithets or comparisons. When reasoning failed with his auditors, he

his way whilst Letty is here. You mayn'

had none yet, no more than you have

Letty Tew fulfilled all the conditions desirable in one called to so trying a destiny. She was a pretty, supple, sweet-mannered girl, and, as is the case with such girls, found it possible to worship a man whom in consistency

y the reading of excerpts from these lively columns. It was a combat of three to one, but the majority did little beyond throwing up hands at anything particularly outrageous. Adela said much less than usual. 'I tell you what it is, you three!' Alfred cried, at a certain climax of enthusiasm, addressing the ladies with characteristic courtesy, 'we'll found a branch of the

d Adela, 'remember that Let

t of her, and you can't refus

t this anticipated lordship

paper if I ask him. One is bette

ok Stephen T

tn't call him Esqui

egenerate; let him

regenerate

e, we p

plied to

eminine, call yourselves plain Letty Tew and

ed his mother. 'As if everybody in Wanley could

pers were disposed to secret jubilation; it was probable that, in consequence of the doings in the valley, trade would look up. Mutimer himself was a centre of interest such as Wanley had never known. When he walked down the street the news that he was visible seemed to spread like wildfire; every house had its gazers. Excepting the case of the Walthams, he had not as yet sought to make personal acquaintances, appearing rather to avoid opportunities. On the whole it seemed likely that he would be popular. The little group of mothers with marriageable daughters waited eagerly for the day when, by establishing himself at the Manor, he would throw off the present semi-incognito, and become the recognised head of Wanley society. He would discover the necessity of having a lady to share his honours and preside at his table. Persistent inquiry seemed to have settled the fact that he was not married already. To be sure, there were awesome rumours that Social

cting of eyes to the Manor pew. This pew had not been occupied since the fateful Sunday when, at the conclusion of the morning service, old Mr. Mutimer was discovered to have breathed his last. It was a notable object in the dim little church, having a wooden canopy supported on four slim oak pillars with vermicular moulding. From pillar to pill

of in connection with young Eldon; but Eldon was now out of the question, and behold his successor, in a double sense! Mrs. Mewling surrendered her Sunday afternoon nap and flew from house to house-of course in time for the dessert wine at each. Her cry was haro! Really, this was sharp practice on Mrs. Waltham's part; it was stealing a march bef

d himself behaving circumspectly. He knew already that the cultivated taste objects to the use of a table-knife save for purposes of cutting; on the whole he saw grounds for the objection. He knew, moreover, that manducation and the absorption of fluids must be performed without audible gusto; the knowledge cost him some self-criticism. But there were numerous minor points of convention on which he was not so clear; it had never occurred to him, for instance, that civilisation demands the breaking of bread, that, in the absence of silver, a fork must suffice for the dissection of fish, that a napkin is

young lady, it is true, but of the same sex and about the same age. He tried to imagine Emma Vine seated at this table; the effort resulted in a disagreeable warmth in the lobes of his ears. Yes, but-he attacked himself-not Emma Vine dressed as he was accustomed to

on the table were like a careless gift of gold-hearted prodigal summer. Richard transferred himself in spirit to a certain square on the borders of Hoxton and Islington, within scent of the Regent's Canal

r experiment with his imagination. 'I had dinner with some people called Waltham last Sunday. The old woman I didn't much care about; but there was

at the simple paring of an orange could be achieved at once with such consummate grace and so naturally? In Richard's country they first bite

d Mutimer speculates

icked enough to smoke,' remarked Mrs.

r,' exclaimed Alfred. 'We shall have two cups of coffee

s evidently mean that Adela and

w you always go to sleep, and A

y well that I have a very different

about smoking,' observed Mut

r,' said the girl, good-naturedly. 'I hope soon to come out into the ga

g less than fifty; probably she had had time to forget how a young girl such as A

retired, moved about the room with a look of uneasiness. Her mother stood at the window, seemingly regarding

speak to Letty,' Adela said

other, scanning her face absentl

ain consulted her watch, and it caused her to flit still faster. Arrived at the abode of the Tews, she fortunately found Letty in the garden, sitting with two younger sisters, one a child of five years.

arry me round!' cr

shoulder, and trot merrily round a circular path in the garden. But the sister nex

e naughty! Is

k of iniquity, turned away in confusio

tooping to kiss the reluctant face. Then, turning to the admonitres

a to her side, began to read in measured tones, reproducing as well as she could th

. Eldon to come about four o'clock. I met him yesterday on the Hill; he came up just as I was looking out for Alfred with the glass, and I asked him if he wouldn't co

t Mr. Mutimer?' asked Letty, savou

but I could tell from his way of speaking. And then it's quite natural, isn't it? I'm really afraid. He'll

Eldon will understand. To think th

ed across Mis

d just-just say, you know, that you're sorry,

project of doubtful propriety. 'Suppose I walk towards the Manor and-and meet him on t

eyes. The idea w

hat it might be a little-

redd

ure. He asked me so particularly if we should be alone. I really

hesi

-' pursued Adela. 'But I'm sure

Yes, I would g

now fa

would go,

u see, it isn't as if it was Mr.

That would b

eful,' murmured Letty

it must be

doesn't know

things last night. And then I only got home just as Alfred did, and he said at once that he

d the sound of her own voice, and did not offer to surrender the

the direction of her walk pointed unmistakably to one destination. But she made no account of secrecy; her errand was perfectly simple and with an object that no one could censure. If people tattled, they alone were to blame. For the first time she experi

pace, not wishing to approach too near to the house, when she at length saw Hubert Eldon walking towards her. He advanced with a

orry to have misled you yesterday. As soon as I reached home, I found that my brother had invited Mr. Mutimer for t

was the result of her having to forbear mention of the real point at issue; she could not say that she feared it might be disagreeable to her hearer to meet

replied almost warmly. 'I'm ver

Facing her with a quiet openness of look, he said, in a tone of ple

ry unpleasant to meet Mr. Mutimer. You felt that, and hence your ki

hould be disagreeable. I believe I understand your

plain

d about the work

ould have interprete

er cheerfulness. This was the face of Mrs. Mewling, who had come up from the direction of Wanley and w

ee my mother,' said Hubert, who also

f the postponed visit. Adela hastened homewards, dreading lest she

ciation. Adela would have been glad to sit alone for a short time, for Mrs. Waltham seemed to wish for her

Mutimer had ceased smoking. Near the latter was a

l when I think of the poor men who toil so all through the week in Belwick, and how th

have holidays far more frequent. In the towns you can scarcely call Sunday a holiday. There

nst their guest, a feeling traceable to more than one source; Mutimer's frequent glances

as the reply, 'except a Disse

planation of the Sunday

ference to any secular matter; the subject being religion

ment. By that time Alfred had taken his pipe from h

's vehemence, 'you don't seriously tell us that the working

rdinary sense of the word, they have no religion

ely it needs

d exp

wever busy we are, there must always be

. A look which he cast at Adela

evenings free, as w

eligion is a luxury; the working man has no luxuries. Now, you speak of the free evenings; people always do, when they're asking why the working classes don't educate themselves. Do you understand what that free evening means? He gets home, say, at six o'clock, tired out; he has to be up again perhaps at five next morning. What can he do but just lie about half asleep? Why, that's the whole principle of the capitalist system of employment; it's calculated exactly how long a man can be made to work in a day without making him incapable of beginning again on the day following-just as it's calc

what disturbed by the speaker's growing earnestness. R

ing over against each other, their heads dropping forward, their eyelids that heavy they can't hold them up. I tell you it's one of the most miserable sights to be seen in this world. If you saw it, Miss Waltham, you'd pity them, I'm very sure of that! You only

s unconventional way. She was feeling a touch of shame as well as the s

ght to give any opinion,'

brother, 'that you have a very

sister and brother were brought up in an orderly home, and taught from the first that ceaseless labour and strict economy were the things always to be kept in mind. All that was just fortunate chance; I'm not praising myself in saying I've been able to get more into my time than most other working men; it's my father and mother I have to thank for it. Suppose they'd been as ignorant and careless as most of their class are made by the

m the word suggested Pall Mall and vague

ace. Well, that's my position, or was a few months ago. I don't suppose any workman has had more advantages. Take it as an example of the most we can hope for, and pray say what it amounts to! Just on the right side, just keepin

der Mutimer's gaze; s

y employment; that was because they didn't like my opinions. Well, I don't say they hadn't a right to dismiss me, just as I suppose you've a right to kill as many of the enem

came more impressively from Mutimer's own lips. A sort of heroism was involved in it, the champ

cumstances were exceptional to be sure, but it was to be hoped that Mr. Mutimer would outgrow this habit of advertising his origin. Let him talk of the working-classes i

er. Mutimer kept his seat, and Adela could not leave him to himself, though for the moment he seemed unc

ink I need fear to say what I mean, but I know there are alway

, appealed to her instinct of justice. She did not like Mutimer, and consequently strove against the prejudice wh

ard words,' she replied pleasantly, 'b

way of looking at the question. I seem t

the means of happiness that we all hav

those means are and can be nothing to them. Besides, my way of thinking in such t

isen and was examining the leaves upon a

ed, quitting his seat. 'You're not indifferent to the hard lives of th

h spring up, and

rent; but it is not in m

did not as yet succeed in regarding himself from the outside and criticising the influences which had got hold upon him; he was only conscious that a young lady-the very type of young lady that a little while ago he would have held up for scorn-was subduing his nature by her mere presence and exacting homage from him

press them,

n end, and the man would give her no opportunity of doing so. She was not in reali

life worn out somewhere in a factory. What would your existence be without the toil of those men and women who live and die in want of every comfort which seems as natural to you as the air you breathe? Don't you feel that yo

nouncing that tea was ready,

ent isn't understood by women. Now, if you were a revivalist preacher-' Mrs. Waltham and Adela w

rief murmured conversation with Letty Tew. H

ails in a tone of confidence. 'I was quite shocked. On his part such conduct i

l her,' was

y in her bedroom a couple of hou

with playfulness which was not quite natural. 'Who was it t

the girl, shamed, but with an endeavour to spe

emember that a girl of your age has to be mindful of her

I happened to meet Mr. Eldon, and when he was saying good-bye I asked him if he wouldn't come and see you before he left Wanley. He promised to come this afternoon. At the time of course I didn

e found the meeting with

't like e

ell Mr. Eldon didn't come. I should

to see hi

n the utmost

. That he should have dared to speak to you is something beyond what I could have imagined. When I went to see Mrs. Eldon on Friday I

n? My dearest mother,

am afraid I have no choice. The sad truth is that Mr. Eldon has utterly disgraced himself. When he ought to have been here to attend Mr. Mutimer's funeral, he

discussing the character of Oliver Cromwell, achieved a most impressive climax in the words, 'He was a bold, bad man.' The adjective 'bad' derived for Adela a dark energy from her recollection of that passage; it connoted every imaginable phase of moral degradation. 'Dissipation' too; to her pure mind the word had a terrible sound; i

ccusations; the strange circumstance of Hubert's absence when every sentiment of decency would have summoned

d the will in which he had left everything to Mr. Eldon; I have no doubt the grief killed him. And one thing more I may tell

r chair. She was white and

that you had been seen talking with Mr. Eldon near the Manor. I feared it was an appointment. Your explanation is all

to have the story known, but mingled feelings made her almost passionate. 'Mrs. Mewling ha

mind; it is most fortunate that the Eldons are going. I am so sorry for poor Mrs. Eldon; who could have thought that her son would tur

rring of her heart made

bed, dear, and don't let this trouble you. What a very good thing that all that wealth didn't go into such hands, isn't it? Mr. Mutimer will at all events use it in a decent way; it won't be scattered i

found her reward for conscientiousness in peaceful slumber. But Adela was late in falling asleep. She, too, had many things to revolve, n