‘It is dangerous, though she has been so kind,’ sighed Mrs. Malory.  ’I have observed nothing to justify the talk which I have heard, but I am in doubt.’

‘Dangerous! it is safety,’ said Merton.

‘How?’

Merton braced himself for the most delicate and perilous part of his enterprise.

‘The Vidame de la Lain will be staying with you?’

‘Naturally,’ said Mrs. Malory.  ’And if there is any truth in what was whispered—­’

‘He will be subject to temptation,’ said Merton.

’Mrs. Brown-Smith is so pretty and so amusing, and dear Matilda; she takes after my dear husband’s family, though the best of girls, Matilda has not that flashing manner.’

’But surely no such thing as temptation should exist for a man so fortunate as de la Lain!  And if it did, would his conduct not confirm what you have heard, and open the eyes of Miss Malory?’

’It seems so odd to be discussing such things with—­so young a man as you—­not even a relation,’ sighed Mrs. Malory.

‘I can withdraw at once,’ said Merton.

’Oh no, please don’t speak of that!  I am not really at all happy yet about my daughter’s future.’

’Well, suppose the worst by way of argument; suppose that you saw, that Miss Malory saw—­’

’Matilda has always refused to see or to listen, and has spoken of the reforming effects of a pure affection.  She would be hard, indeed, to convince that anything was wrong, but, once certain—­I know Matilda’s character—­she would never forgive the insult, never.’

‘And you would rather that she suffered some present distress?’

’Than that she was tied for life to a man who could cause it?  Certainly I would.’

’Then, Mrs. Malory, as it is awkward to discuss these intimate matters with me, might I suggest that you should have an interview with Mrs. Brown-Smith herself?  I assure you that you can trust her, and I happen to know that her view of the man about whom we are talking is exactly your own.  More I could say as to her reasons and motives, but we entirely decline to touch on the past or to offer any opinion about the characters of our patients—­the persons about whose engagements we are consulted.  He might have murdered his grandmother or robbed a church, but my lips would be sealed.’

’Do you not think that Mrs. Brown-Smith would be very much surprised if I consulted her?’

’I know that she takes a sincere interest in Miss Malory, and that her advice would be excellent—­though perhaps rather startling,’ said Merton.

’I dislike it very much.  The world has altered terribly since I was Matilda’s age,’ said Mrs. Malory; ’but I should never forgive myself if I neglected any precaution, and I shall take your advice.  I shall consult Mrs. Brown-Smith.’

Merton thus retreated from what even he regarded as a difficult and delicate affair.  He fell back on his reserves; and Mrs. Brown-Smith later gave an account of what passed between herself and the representative of an earlier age: