What a sad thing it is that you go so astray t It distresses me more than you think.

Indeed, if I may tell you such a thing, I pray for you nightly.' Mutimer made a movement of discomfort, but laughed off the subject.
'I'll go and see the vicar, at all events,' he said.

'But must your coming depend on his ?' Mrs.Waltham hesitated.
'It really would make things easier.' 'Might I, in that case, hope that Miss Waltham would come ?' Richard seemed to exert himself to ask the question.

Mrs.Waltham sank her eyes, smiled feebly, and in the end shook her head.
'On a public occasion, I'm really afraid--' 'I'm sure she would like to know Mrs.Westlake,' urged Richard, without his usual confidence.

'And if you and her brother--' 'If it were not a Socialist gathering.' Richard uncrossed his legs and sat for a moment looking into the fire.
Then he turned suddenly.
'Mrs.Waltham, may I ask her myself ?' She was visibly agitated.