"Pardon me one moment more," he said, "We are at a point where the beauty of the System becomes most manifest. I refer to its elasticity--its power of utilizing, provisionally at any rate, existing Institutions pending its maturer development. Graubosch does not doubt the efficacy at some future date of the Metaphysical Check on our propensities supplied by the _Plus_ and _Minus_ of his System. But he proposes for the present--at least, until believers in a Personal God from early youth have had time to die out--to postpone the _Plus_ which is to take his place. Also--and this is important in connection with the operation of Metaphysical Checks--he is favourable to the retention of a Personal Devil until the Masses have acquired an insight into Metaphysics...." "I must ask you to excuse me," said Mr. Challis. "I have letters to write, and they say the Post goes at twelve...." "But I hope I have impressed you favourably. We must bear in mind...." "Most favourably, my dear sir. And it seems to me that if we only let things alone vigorously enough, we may regard Professor Graubosch's great Reform as already in operation...." Mr. Challis paused on behalf of a newcomer, to whom he resumed: "Not at all, Miss Arkroyd ... not the least! I assure you Mr. Brownrigg and I have talked the subject dry.... No!--I really am speaking the truth." This with absolute fervour. "Because I do so hate interrupting," said Judith, who had been waiting to speak. "And I saw you were so interested. But I can say what I have to say and go--and then you can finish." Mr. Challis looked dejected, and Judith continued: "I only wanted to say that I shall be walking down to the village presently, and could show you the Roman and British camps and the prehistoric monolith." Mr. Challis looked elated. "Only _presently_, when you have really had your talk out. I shall be on the terrace." Mr. Challis was just on the point of arresting Miss Arkroyd's departure by another violent profession of intense completion of the subject in hand, when prudence murmured in his ear that his bore mustn't be allowed to come too. Now a pretence that he was yearning for three words more, and would then meet the lady on the terrace, just served to place Mr. Brownrigg in the position of a fixture. It localized him. Otherwise he might have moved with the train of events, unshaken off. Even as it was, a very vigorous "I really mustn't keep Miss Arkroyd waiting any longer" was wanted to effect the extraction--for it was quite like tooth-drawing. But the force of handling--as the art-critics phrase it--was so strong that Mr. Brownrigg couldn't say, "Why shouldn't I come too, I should like to know?" He _would_ have, nevertheless. But he had to give the point up, and went to look for Mr. Wraxall. * * * * *