"Er--yes! As a matter of fact, I _do_! Didn't once! At college, you know; got into a free-thinking set, and chucked the whole thing aside. But I've been about a good bit. I've seen countries where they go on that tack and it doesn't pay. The old way is the best. I know I'm a bit careless still. Men are, Miss Ramsden, when they have only themselves to think of. They get into the way of leaving that sort of thing to their mothers and sisters, but when a fellow starts for himself, it's different! I'm the master here, in name, but virtually it's my mother who runs the house. I don't interfere with her ways, but when I--er--_marry_, it will be different! Then I shall make a stand. Family prayers, and that sort of thing, don't you know. A man ought to set an example. You are quite right; you are always right! Bit shy at first, you know, and that sort of thing, but I'd do it; I promise you, I would! Turn up at church regularly every Sunday!" "It would be your duty," said Elma, primly. She twirled the handle of the sunshade round and round, and strove womanfully to keep her thoughts fixed on the subject on hand, and away from that thrilling "when I marry." "But it isn't only _form_, you know," she added anxiously! "It's caring for it most of all, and putting it before everything else!" Geoffrey gazed at her in a rapture of admiration. He loved her simplicity; he adored her earnestness. In his eyes she was a shining white angel sent down from heaven to be his guide through life. It needed all his self-control to keep back the words which were struggling for utterance, but the fear of frightening Elma by a premature declaration gave him strength to resist. They turned instead into a prayer, a sincere yet bargain-making prayer, like that of Jacob of old. "Give me this woman!" cried the inner voice: "this one woman out of all the world, and I will vow in return my faith, my allegiance!" The most earnest vows are often offered in the least conventional language, and Geoffrey Greville was not a man to promise without intending to perform. There was a long, pregnant silence. Elma felt the presence of electricity in the air, and forced herself to return to the attack. "And there are other things! ... You play bridge--" "Certainly I do!" "For money?" "Shilling points." "What are `points'?" Geoffrey laughed happily. This innocence sounded fascinating in his infatuated ears. "That's a little difficult to explain, isn't it, if you don't know anything about the game? Don't you play cards at all?" "Mother won't have them in the house. We have `Quartettes,' but they are different. ... Can you lose much at shilling points?" "A fair amount, if you're unlucky, but you can win it, too! I generally do win, as a matter of fact!" "What is the most you ever lost in a night?" Geoffrey grimaced expressively.