the right of human speculation to go; he was, in fact, as Radical there as Nevil Beauchamp politically; and would not the latter innovator stare, perchance frown conservatively, at a prospect of woman taking counsel, in council, with men upon public affairs, like the women in the Germania!  Mr. Austin, if this time he talked in earnest, deemed that Englishwomen were on the road to win such a promotion, and would win it ultimately.  He said soberly that he saw more certain indications of the reality of progress among women than any at present shown by men.  And he was professedly temperate.  He was but for opening avenues to the means of livelihood for them, and leaving it to their strength to conquer the position they might wish to win.  His belief that they would do so was the revolutionary sign.

‘Are there points of likeness between Radicals and Tories?’ she inquired.

‘I suspect a cousinship in extremes,’ he answered.

‘If one might be present at an argument,’ said she.

‘We have only to meet to fly apart as wide as the Poles,’ Mr. Austin rejoined.

But she had not spoken of a particular person to meet him; and how, then, had she betrayed herself?  She fancied he looked unwontedly arch as he resumed: 

’The end of the argument would see us each entrenched in his party.  Suppose me to be telling your Radical friend such truisms as that we English have not grown in a day, and were not originally made free and equal by decree; that we have grown, and must continue to grow, by the aid and the development of our strength; that ours is a fairly legible history, and a fair example of the good and the bad in human growth; that his landowner and his peasant have no clear case of right and wrong to divide them, one being the descendant of strong men, the other of weak ones; and that the former may sink, the latter may rise—­there is no artificial obstruction; and if it is difficult to rise, it is easy to sink.  Your Radical friend, who would bring them to a level by proclamation, could not adopt a surer method for destroying the manhood of a people:  he is for doctoring wooden men, and I for not letting our stout English be cut down short as Laplanders; he would have them in a forcing house, and I in open air, as hitherto.  Do you perceive a discussion? and you apprehend the nature of it.  We have nerves.  That is why it is better for men of extremely opposite opinions not to meet.  I dare say Radicalism has a function, and so long as it respects the laws I am ready to encounter it where it cannot be avoided.  Pardon my prosing.’

‘Recommend me some hard books to study through the Winter,’ said Cecilia, refreshed by a discourse that touched no emotions, as by a febrifuge.  Could Nevil reply to it?  She fancied him replying, with that wild head of his—­wildest of natures.  She fancied also that her wish was like Mr. Austin’s not to meet him.  She was enjoying a little rest.