"We could flood a long section of the Tunnel from our side, and they couldn't pump the water out from theirs," he answered. "Of course, I don't know much about it, but when you get chaps like Hare and Sartiaux and Fox talking seriously about it, you listen seriously to them. Anyhow, I do. Old Hare told me yesterday I was getting on nicely!..." Mrs. Graham was delighted. "Did he, dear?" she burbled at Ninian. "Yes," Ninian answered, "he said I wasn't such an ass as he'd thought I was. Oh, I'm getting on all right!" 4 Henry sat back in his chair while they talked, and let his mind fill with thoughts of Mary. She was listening to Ninian, not as if she understood all that he was saying, but as if she were proud of him, and while he watched her, he felt his old affection for her surging up in his heart. He had described a young, fresh girl in "Drusilla," and he had fallen in love with his description. Now, looking at Mary, he realised that unconsciously he had drawn her portrait. "I must have been in love with her all the time," he thought, "even when I was running after Sheila Morgan!" He looked at her so steadily that she felt his gaze, and she turned to look at him. She smiled at him as she did so, and he smiled back at her. "Isn't it interesting to hear about the Tunnel?" she said. "Eh?... Oh, yes! Yes. Awfully interesting...." 5 "You know," said Roger when Mrs. Graham and Mary and Rachel had gone, "we really haven't talked enough about this factory system. Rachel's wild about it, of course ... she's a girl ... but she's got more sense on her side than we have on ours. It really isn't any good ignoring it. It's too big to be overlooked. I think we ought to have a course of talks about the whole thing. We could get people to come and tell us all they know. Rachel's got a lot of information. We could pick it out of her. And then there's that woman ... what's her name ... Mc something ... who knows all about factories ... Mc Mc Mc ..." "Mary McArthur," said Gilbert. "Yes. That's her name. I wonder if she'd come and dine with us. You know, we haven't had any women. That's an oversight, isn't it?" He walked towards the door as he spoke. "I'm going to bed now," he said. "I've got a county court case in the morning at Croydon, and I shall have to get up early. Good-night!" "Good-night, Roger!" they murmured sleepily. "Oh, by the way," he added, "Rachel and I are engaged. I thought I'd tell you!" He shut the door behind him. 6 They sat up, gaping at the closed door. "What'd he say?" said Ninian. "He says he's engaged to that blooming orator!" Gilbert answered. "But, damn it, why?" said Ninian. "And we've got the lease of this house for another two years!" Henry exclaimed. "I suppose he'll want to get married and ... all that!" They were silent for a while, contemplating this strange disruption of their affairs. "Of course, people do get engaged!" said Ninian, and then he relapsed into silence.