Nataly took the unintended blow, and bowed to it; and still more harshly said:  ‘What rank of life does the woman come from?’

’The class educated for a skittish career by your popular Stage and your Book-stalls.  I am not precise?’

’Leave Mr. Durance.  Is she in any degree commonly well bred? . . . behaviour, talk-her English.’

’I trench on Mr. Durance in replying.  Her English is passable.  You may hear . . .’

’Everywhere, of course!  And this woman of slipshod English and excited manners imposed upon Nesta!’

‘It would not be my opinion.’

‘Did not impose on her!’

‘Not many would impose on Nesta Radnor for long.’

‘Think what that says, Dartrey!’

‘You have had a detestable version of the story.’

‘Because an excited creature thanks God to you for having met her!’

’She may.  She’s a better woman for having met her.  Don’t suppose we’re for supernatural conversions.  The woman makes no show of that.  But she has found a good soul among her sex—­her better self in youth, as one guesses; and she is grateful—­feels farther from exile in consequence.  She has found a lady to take her by the hand!—­not a common case.  She can never go to the utterly bad after knowing Nesta.  I forget if she says it; I say it.  You have heard the story from one of your conventional gentlemen.’

’A true gentleman.  I have reason to thank him.  He has not your ideas on these matters, Dartrey.  He is very sensitive . . . on Nesta’s behalf.’

’With reference to marriage.  I’ll own I prefer another kind of gentleman.  I ’ve had my experience of that kind of gentleman.  Many of the kind have added their spot to the outcasts abominated for uncleanness—­in holy unction.  Many?—­I won’t say all; but men who consent to hear black words pitched at them, and help to set good women facing away from them, are pious dolts or rascal dogs of hypocrites.  They, if you’ll let me quote Colney Durance to you to-day—­and how is it he is not in favour?—­they are tempting the Lord to turn the pillars of Society into pillars of salt.  Down comes the house.  And priests can rest in sight of it!—­They ought to be dead against the sanctimony that believes it excommunicates when it curses.  The relationship is not dissolved so cheaply, though our Society affects to think it is.  Barmby’s off to the East End of this London, Victor informs me:—­good fellow!  And there he’ll be groaning over our vicious nature.  Nature is not more responsible for vice than she is for inhumanity.  Both bad, but the latter’s the worse of the two.’

Nataly interposed:  ‘I see the contrast, and see whom it’s to strike.’