“So very extraordinary, Israel,” she said. “I had almost looked upon the thing as settled, but she refused him point-blank. It’s my first and last attempt at match-making. I think Mr. Hibbert-Wyllie in his inmost heart was a little surprised. He took it very well, poor fellow, although I believe he felt quite broken-hearted. It’s very strange, for it’s not like Edith to lead a man on and then throw him over.” “Did she lead him on?” I asked. “Surely you must have seen that?” “Well, I can’t exactly say that I did.” “But they went everywhere together, picture-galleries, concerts, theatres, lectures.” “Who asked him?” I interjected, slily. Mrs. Gascoyne was one of those straight-dealing folk to whom it was perfectly possible to point out a mistake in judgment without creating an unfriendly atmosphere. “Do you mean to suggest that the mischief has been of my doing, Israel?” “Dear lady, I mean to say that in your unselfish anxiety to marry your niece brilliantly you imagined a state of things which did not exist.” “Exactly; you mean that I’m a dreadful old mischief-maker.” “You know I don’t mean that.” I always adopted in my attitude towards Mrs. Gascoyne a touch of ingenuousness which I found eminently effective. It impressed her with a strong belief in my sincerity; in fact, talking to her I have known myself believe in my own sincerity, so free from guile was her manner of thought and speech. A conviction, the result of some reflection, had forced itself upon me that with my secret inevitably striving to write itself on my face and manner it would be well to cultivate as much as possible the society of the simple-minded, in order to borrow something of their mood. Mood is everything in influencing surroundings. I am still unable to see why a murderer should not go through life with a perfect inward peace, providing his associates are the right people. Apart from a certain love of secret romances, I prefer the society of the simple-minded and the good; just as in order to preserve a proper balance of mind so much time should be spent in the country and so much time in town:—a constant going from the artificial to nature and back again from nature to the artificial. A right proportion of light and shade is a great factor in human happiness. “I trust Edith means to marry,” continued Mrs. Gascoyne. “It would be a crime if so much charm and character were wasted.” “Do you think it is necessarily wasted because a woman does not marry?” “I am old-fashioned, Israel, and I think a woman’s vocation is marriage.” “A great many women must be without a vocation,” I laughed. “That is no reason why as many as have the opportunity should not fulfil it. Now, when you marry, Israel——” At that moment Miss Gascoyne entered the room. She was a little embarrassed, as if she were aware that I knew all about Wyllie’s proposal and her refusal.