‘What do I care?’ he replied, waving his arm.  ’Let them think what they like.  I must find Alice.’

Adela saw in a moment all that his absence would involve.  He could of course explain subsequently, but in the meantime vast harm would have been done.  It was impossible to neglect the meeting altogether.  She ran after him and stopped him on the pavement.

‘I will go to this meeting for you,’ she said.  ’A cab will take me there and bring me back.  I will let them know what keeps you away.’

He looked at her with astonishment.

‘You!  How can you go?  Among those men?’

’Surely I have nothing to fear from them?  Have you lost all your faith suddenly?  You cannot go, but someone must.  I will speak to them so that they cannot but believe me.  You continue the search; I will go.’

They stood together in the pouring rain.  Mutimer caught her hand.

‘I never knew what a wife could be till now,’ he exclaimed hoarsely.  ‘And I never knew you!’

’Find me a cab and give the man the address.  I will be ready in an instant.’

Her cheeks were on fire; her nerves quivered with excitement.  She had made the proposal almost involuntarily; only his thanks gave her some understanding of what she was about to do.  But she did not shrink; a man’s—­better still, a woman’s—­noblest courage throbbed in her.  If need were, she too could stand forward in a worthy cause and speak the truth undauntedly.

The cab was bearing her away.  She looked at her watch in the moment of passing a street lamp and just saw that it was eight o’clock.  The meeting would be full by this; they would already be drawing ill conclusions from Mutimer’s absence Faster, faster!  Every moment lost increased the force of prejudice against him.  She could scarcely have felt more zeal on behalf of the man whom her soul loved.  In the fever of her brain she was conscious of a wish that even now that love could be her husband’s.  Ah no, no!  But serve him she could and loyally.  The lights flew by in the streets of Islington; the driver was making the utmost speed he durst.  A check among thronging vehicles anguished her.  But it was past, and here at length came the pause.

A crowd of perhaps a hundred men was gathered about the ill-lighted entrance to what had formerly been a low-class dancing-saloon.  Adela saw them come thronging about the cab, heard their cries of discontent and of surprise when she showed herself.

‘Wait for me!’ she called to the driver, and straightway walked to the door.  The men made way for her.  On the threshold she turned.

‘I wish to see some member of the committee.  I am Mrs. Mutimer.’

There was a coarse laugh from some fellows, but others cried, ’Shut up! she’s a lady.’  One stepped forward and announced himself as a committee-man.  He followed her into the passage.

‘My husband cannot come,’ she said.  ’Will you please show me where I can speak to the meeting and tell them the reason of his absence?’