‘Nor of males either, of course,’ put in Everard, stroking his beard.

‘Nor of males either, cousin Everard.’

‘You thoroughly approve all this, Miss Nunn?’

’Oh yes.  But I go further.  I would have girls taught that marriage is a thing to be avoided rather than hoped for.  I would teach them that for the majority of women marriage means disgrace.’

‘Ah!  Now do let me understand you.  Why does it mean disgrace?’

’Because the majority of men are without sense of honour.  To be bound to them in wedlock is shame and misery.’

Everard’s eyelids drooped, and he did not speak for a moment.

’And you seriously think, Miss Nunn, that by persuading as many woman as possible to abstain from marriage you will improve the character of men?’

’I have no hope of sudden results, Mr. Barfoot.  I should like to save as many as possible of the women now living from a life of dishonour; but the spirit of our work looks to the future.  When all women, high and low alike, are trained to self-respect, then men will regard them in a different light, and marriage may be honourable to both.’

Again Everard was silent, and seemingly impressed.

‘We’ll go on with this discussion another time,’ said Miss Barfoot, with cheerful interruption.  ‘Everard, do you know Somerset at all?’

‘Never was in that part of England.’

’Miss Nunn is going to take her holiday at Cheddar and we have been looking over some photographs of that district taken by her brother.’

From the table she reached a scrapbook, and Everard turned it over with interest.  The views were evidently made by an amateur, but in general had no serious faults.  Cheddar cliffs were represented in several aspects.

’I had no idea the scenery was so fine.  Cheddar cheese has quite overshadowed the hills in my imagination.  This might be a bit of Cumberland, or of the Highlands.’

‘It was my playground when I was a child,’ said Rhoda.

‘You were born at Cheddar?’

’No; at Axbridge, a little place not far off.  But I had an uncle at Cheddar, a farmer, and very often stayed with him.  My brother is farming there now.’

’Axbridge?  Here is a view of the market-place.  What a delightful old town!’

’One of the sleepiest spots in England, I should say.  The railway goes through it now, but hasn’t made the slightest difference.  Nobody pulls down or builds; nobody opens a new shop; nobody thinks of extending his trade.  A delicious place!’

‘But surely you find no pleasure in that kind of thing, Miss Nunn?’

’Oh yes—­at holiday time.  I shall doze there for a fortnight, and forget all about the “so-called nineteenth century."’

’I can hardly believe it.  There will be a disgraceful marriage at this beautiful old church, and the sight of it will exasperate you.’

Rhoda laughed gaily.