’Oh dear, no; they’re one and the same thing.  Look at the history of persecution.  She would like to see him—­and me too, I dare say—­brought to the stake.’

’Well, well, of course if you won’t talk sensibly I had something to propose.’

‘Let me hear it, then.’

’You yourself agree with me that there would be nothing to repent in urging her.’

’On the contrary, I think she might consider herself precious lucky.  It’s only that’—­he looked dubious for a moment—­’I’m not quite sure whether she’s the kind of girl to be content with a husband she found she couldn’t convert.  I can imagine her marrying a rake on the hope of bringing him to regular churchgoing, but then Mutimer doesn’t happen to be a blackguard, so he isn’t very interesting to her.’

’I know what you’re thinking of, but I don’t think we need take that into account.  And, indeed, we can’t afford to take anything into account but her establishment in a respectable and happy home.  Our choice, as you are aware, is not a wide one.  I am often deeply anxious about the poor girl.’

‘I dare say.  Well, what was your proposal?’

‘Do you think Letty could help us?’

’H’m, can’t say.  Might or might not.  She’s as bad as Adela.  Ten to one it’ll be a point of conscience with her to fight the project tooth and nail.’

‘I don’t think so.  She has accepted you.’

’So she has, to my amazement.  Women are monstrously illogical.  She must think of my latter end with mixed feelings.’

’I do wish you were less flippant in dealing with grave subjects, Alfred.  I assure you I am very much troubled.  I feel that so much is at stake, and yet the responsibility of doing anything is so very great.’

‘Shall I talk it over with Letty?’

’If you feel able to.  But Adela would be very seriously offended if she guessed that you had done so.’

’Then she mustn’t guess, that’s all.  I’ll see what I can do to-night.’

In the home of the Tews there was some difficulty in securing privacy.  The house was a small one, and the sacrifice of general convenience when Letty wanted a whole room for herself and Alfred was considerable.  To-night it was managed, however; the front parlour was granted to the pair for one hour.

It could not be said that there was much delicacy in Alfred’s way of approaching the subject he wished to speak of.  This young man had a scorn of periphrases.  If a topic had to be handled, why not be succinct in the handling?  Alfred was of opinion that much time was lost by mortals in windy talk.

‘Look here, Letty; what’s your idea about Adela marrying Mutimer?’

The girl looked startled.

‘She has not accepted him?’

‘Not yet.  Don’t you think it would be a good thing if she did?’

‘I really can’t say,’ Letty replied very gravely, her head aside.  ’I don’t think any one can judge but Adela herself.  Really, Alfred, I don’t think we ought to interfere.’