’It’s hardly to be called reading.  I have to look out every other word.  It’s a book by a man called Schaeffle, on the “Social Question."’

‘Oh yes,’ said the girl, hazarding a conjecture that the work had something to do with Socialism.  ‘Of course that interests you.’

’I think I’m going to write a translation of it.  My husband doesn’t read German, and this book is important.’

‘I suppose you are quite a Socialist, Adela?’ Letty inquired, in a tone which seemed anxious to presuppose the affirmative answer.  She had never yet ventured to touch on the subject.

‘Yes, I am a Socialist,’ said Adela firmly.  ’I am sure anyone will be who thinks about it, and really understands the need for Socialism.  Does the word still sound a little dreadful to you?  I remember so well when it did to me.  It was only because I knew nothing about it.’

‘I don’t think I have that excuse,’ said the other.  ’Alfred is constantly explaining.  But, Adela—­’

She paused, not quite daring to speak her thoughts.  Adela smiled an encouragement.

’I was going to say—­I’m sure you won’t be offended.  But you still go to church?’

’Oh yes, I go to church.  You mustn’t think that everything Alfred insists upon belongs to Socialism.  I believe that all Christians ought to be Socialists; I think it is part of our religion, if only we carry it out faithfully.’

‘But does Mr. Wyvern think so?’

’Yes, he does; he does indeed.  I talk with Mr. Wyvern frequently, and I never knew, before he showed me, how necessary it is for a Christian to be a Socialist.’

’You surprise me, Adela.  Yet he doesn’t confess himself a Socialist.’

’Indeed, he does.  When did you hear Mr. Wyvern preach a sermon without insisting on justice and unselfishness and love of our neighbour?  If we try to be just and unselfish, and to love our neighbour as ourself, we help the cause of Socialism.  Mr. Wyvern doesn’t deal with politics—­it is not necessary he should.  That is for men like my husband, who give their lives to the practical work.  Mr. Wyvern confines himself to spiritual teaching.  He would injure his usefulness if he went beyond that.’

Letty was awed by the exceeding change which showed itself not only in Adela’s ways of thought, but in her very voice and manner of speaking.  The tone was so authoritative, so free from the diffidence which had formerly kept Adela from asserting strongly even her cherished faiths.  She felt, too, that with the maiden hesitancy something else had gone, at all events in a great degree; something that it troubled her to miss; namely, that winning persuasiveness which had been one of the characteristics that made Adela so entirely lovable.  At present Mrs. Mutimer scarcely sought to persuade; she uttered her beliefs as indubitable.  A competent observer might now and then have surmised that she felt it needful to remind herself of the creed she had accepted.