‘Here is the scenario,’ said Miss Martin, handing a typewritten synopsis to Merton.

   ’USE AND ABUSE OF NOVELS.

’All good things capable of being abused.  Alcohol not one of these; alcohol always pernicious.  Fiction, on the other hand, a good thing.  Antiquity of fiction.  In early days couched in verse.  Civilisation prefers prose.  Fiction, from the earlier ages, intended to convey Moral Instruction.  Opinion of Aristotle defended against that of Plato.  Morality in mediaeval Romance.  Criticism of Mr. Frederic Harrison.  Opinion of Moliere.  Yet French novels usually immoral, and why.  Remarks on Popery.  To be avoided.  Morality of Richardson and of Sir Walter Scott.  Impropriety re-introduced by Charlotte Bronte.  Unwillingness of Lecturer to dwell on this Topic.  The Novel is now the whole of Literature.  The people have no time to read anything else.  Responsibilities of the Novelist as a Teacher.  The Novel the proper vehicle of Theological, Scientific, Social, and Political Instruction.  Mr. Hall Caine, Miss Corelli.  Fallacy of thinking that the Novel should Amuse.  Abuse of the Novel as a source of mischievous and false Opinions.  Case of The Woman Who Did.  Sacredness of Marriage.  Study of the Novel becomes an abuse if it leads to the Neglect of the Morning and Evening Newspapers.  Sir Walter Besant on the Novel.  None but the newest Novels ought to be read.  Mr. W. D. Howells on this subject.  Experience of the Lecturer as a Novelist.  Gratifying letters from persons happily influenced by the Lecturer.  Anecdotes.  Case of Miss A—–­ C—–.  Case of Mr. J—–­ R—–.  Unhappy Endings demoralising.  Marriage the true End of the Novel, but the beginning of the happy life.  Lecturer wishes her audience happy Endings and true Beginnings.  Conclusion.’

‘Will that do?’ asked Miss Martin anxiously.

‘Yes, if you don’t exceed your plan, or run into chaff.’

‘I won’t,’ said Miss Martin.  ‘It is all chaff, but they won’t see it.’

‘I think I would drop that about Popery,’ said Merton—­’it may lead to letters in the newspapers; and do be awfully careful about impropriety in novels.’

‘I’ll put in “Vice to be Condemned, not Described,"’ said Miss Martin, pencilling a note on the margin of her paper.

‘That seems safe,’ said Merton.  ’But it cuts out some of our most powerful teachers.’

‘Serve them right!’ said Miss Martin.  ‘Teachers! the arrant humbugs.’

‘You will report at once on your return?’ said Merton.  ’I shall be on tenter-hooks till I see you again.  If I knew what you are really about, I’d take counsel’s opinion.  Medical opinion does not satisfy me:  I want legal.’

‘How nervous you are!’ said Miss Martin.  ’Counsel would be rather stuck up, I think; it is a new kind of case,’ and the lady laughed in an irritating way.  ‘I’ll tell you what I’ll do,’ she said.  ’I’ll telegraph to you on the Monday morning after the lecture.  If everything goes well, I’ll telegraph, “Happy ending.”  If anything goes wrong—­but it can’t—­I’ll telegraph, “Unhappy ending."’