It's all right savin' the family. Any cove'll do
that at a pinch. But I do not see myself as a 'brand-snatcher'
Besides, I am not ALTOGETHER at liberty."
"What?" cried his mother.
"Oh, I've not COMMITTED myself to anything. But I've been three
times to hear that wonderful woman speak--once on the PLATFORM! And
people are beginning to talk. She thinks no end of me. Sent me a
whole lot of stuff last week--'ADVANCED LITERATURE' she calls it.
I've got 'em all upstairs. Wrote every word of 'em herself. Never
saw a woman who can TALK and WRITE as she can. And OUTSIDE of all
that I'm afraid I've more or less ENCOURAGED her. And there you are-
-the whole thing in a nutshell."
"It would unite our blood, Alaric," the fond mother insisted.
"Oh, hang our blood! I beg your pardon, mater, but really I can't
make our blood the FIRST thing."
"It would settle you for life, dear," she suggested after a pause.
"I'd certainly be settled all right," in a despairing tone.
"Think what it would mean, Alaric."
"I am, mater. I'm thinking--and thinking awfully hard. Now, just a
moment. Don't let either of us talk. Just let us think. I know how
much is at stake for the family, and YOU realise how much is at
stake for ME, don't you?"
"Indeed I do.
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