"Oh, but handfuls of money, you know! It's the impression made on the neighbourhood. Seriously, they are driven to desperate resources; and I believe there _is_ a good deal of intimidation going on--especially on the part of district-visitors. Mrs. Alexander told me of several instances. And the wives (of course) are such wretched cowards! That great big carpenter, East, is under his wife's thumb, and she has been imploring him not to vote Liberal for fear of consequences--she sits weeping, and talking about the workhouse. Contemptible idiot! It would gratify me extremely to see her really going to the workhouse." "And pray," asked Denzil, with a laugh, "what would be the result of giving the franchise to such women?" "The result _might_ be that, in time to come, there wouldn't be so many of them." "In time to come--possibly. In the meanwhile, send their girls to school to learn a wholesome contempt for their mothers." "Oh, Denzil!" "Well, it sounds brutal, but it's very good sense. All progress involves disagreeable necessities." Mrs. Wade was looking about the room, smiling, absent. She rose abruptly. "I mustn't spoil your one quiet evening. How do the proofs go on?" "Would you care to take a batch of them?" asked Quarrier. "These are revises--you might be able to make a useful suggestion." She hesitated, but at length held out her hand. "You have rather a long walk," said Lilian. "I hope it's fine." "No; it drizzles." "Oh, how kind of you to take so much trouble on our account!" Mrs. Wade went out into the darkness. It was as disagreeable a night as the time of year could produce; black overhead, slimy under foot, with a cold wind to dash the colder rain in one's face. The walk home took more than half an hour, and she entered her cottage much fatigued. Without speaking to the girl who admitted her, she went upstairs to take off her out-of-door things; on coming down to the sitting-room, she found her lamp lit, her fire burning, and supper on the table--a glass of milk and some slices of bread and butter. Her friends would have felt astonishment and compassion had they learned how plain and slight was the fare that supported her; only by reducing her household expenditure to the strict minimum could she afford to dress in the manner of a lady, supply herself with a few papers and books, and keep up the appearances without which it is difficult to enjoy any society at all.