His tone was. as far from petulance as could be.  Hubert’s emotions were never feebly coloured; his nature ran into extremes, and vehemence of scorn was in him the true voice of injured tenderness.  Of humility he knew but little, least of all where his affections were concerned, but there was the ring of noble metal in his self-assertion.  He would never consciously act or speak a falsehood, and was intolerant of the lies, petty or great, which conventionality and warped habits of thought encourage in those of weaker personality.

‘Let us be just,’ remarked Mr. Wyvern, his voice sounding rather sepulchral after the outburst of youthful passion.  ’Mrs. Waltham’s point of view is not inconceivable.  I, as you know, am not altogether a man of formulas, but I am not sure that my behaviour would greatly differ from hers in her position; I mean as regards yourself.’

‘Yes, yes; I admit the reasonableness of it,’ said Hubert more calmly, ’granted that you have to deal with children.  But Adela is too old to have no will or understanding.  It may be she has both.  After all she would scarcely allow herself to be forced into a detestable marriage.  Very likely she takes her mother’s practical views.’

’There is such a thing as blank indifference in a young girl who has suffered disappointment.’

‘I could do nothing,’ exclaimed Hubert.  ’That she thinks of me at all, or has ever seriously done so, is the merest supposition.  There was nothing binding between us.  If she is false to herself, experience and suffering must teach her.’

The vicar mused.

‘Then you go your way untroubled?’ was his next question.

‘If I am strong enough to overcome foolishness.’

‘And if foolishness persists in asserting itself?’

Hubert kept gloomy silence.

‘Thus much I can say to you of my own knowledge,’ observed Mr. Wyvern with weight.  ’Miss Waltham is not one to speak words lightly.  You call her a child, and no doubt her view of the world is childlike; but she is strong in her simplicity.  A pledge from her will, or I am much mistaken, bear no two meanings.  Her marriage with Mr. Mutimer would be as little pleasing to me as to you, but I cannot see that I have any claim to interpose, or, indeed, power to do so.  Is it not the same with yourself?’

‘No, not quite the same.’

‘Then you have hope that you might still affect her destiny?’

Hubert did not answer.

’Do you measure the responsibility you would incur?  I fear not, if you have spoken sincerely.  Your experience has not been of a kind to aid you in understanding her, and, I warn you, to make her subject to your caprices would be little short of a crime, whether now—­heed me—­or hereafter.’

‘Perhaps it is too late,’ murmured Hubert.

‘That may well be, in more senses than one.’

‘Can you not discover whether she is really engaged?’