She took for granted that he was a decided enemy of the "movement," and although at the moment she was in little humour for the old battle, she was bound to be true to her colours. So she donned her armour wearily. "I certainly have," she said quietly. "And you mean to practise?" "Assuredly." The examination and its concomitant sorrows were forgotten. She answered the question as she would have answered it at any time in the last three or four years. "Are you much interested in the work?" "Very much," she said warmly. "I am sure you need scarcely ask that," said Lady Munro, with a kind smile. "One does not undertake that sort of thing _pour s'amuser_!" "There are other motives," he said, looking severely at his wife. "There is ambition." This was shrewdly said, and Mona's respect for her opponent rose. A fit of coughing had interrupted him. His wife looked at him anxiously. "I wish you would prescribe for my husband," she said, smiling. "_Don't!_" ejaculated Sir Douglas fiercely, before the cough gave him breath to speak. At this moment Nubboo announced a visitor, a cousin of Sir Douglas', and the latter seemed glad of an interruption which allowed him to have Mona entirely to himself. He shook hands with the new-comer, and then, returning to Mona's side, sat in silence for a few moments as if trying to collect his thoughts. "The fact is," he broke out impulsively at last, "I am torn asunder on this subject of women doctors--torn asunder. There is a terrible necessity for them--terrible--and yet, what a sacrifice!" Mona could scarcely believe her ears. This was very different from the direct, brutal attack she had anticipated. Instinctively she laid down her armour, and left herself at his mercy. "I think you are unusually liberal to admit the necessity," she said, but her sweet earnest face said much more for her than her words. "_Liberal!_" he said. "What man can live and not admit it? It makes me mad to think how a woman can allow herself to be pulled about by a _man_. Fifty years hence no woman will have the courage to own that it ever happened to her. But the sacrifice is a fearful one. Picture my allowing Evelyn to go through what you are going through!" And his glance rested fondly on his daughter's fair head. "I agree with you so far," said Mona, "that no woman should undertake such work under the age of twenty-three." "_Twenty-three!_" he repeated. "It is bad for a _man_, but a man has some virtues which remain untouched by it. A woman loses everything that makes womanhood fair and attractive. You _must_ be becoming hard and blunted?" He looked at her as if demanding an answer. "I hope not," said Mona quietly, and her eyes met his. "You _hope_ not!" He dashed back her words with all the vehemence of an evangelical preacher who receives them in answer to his all-important question. "You _hope_ not! Is that all you can say? You are not sure?"