'Excellent speakers,' he cried. 'We shall have the hall crowded. You'll come, Ursula?' 'I don't know what Miss Mary will do. I don't think she means it.' 'Oh, if you insist, if we both insist, she will. Look at the paper--we are to have some splendid experiences.' Nuttie made a face. 'I've heard all about those,' she said. 'That man,' pointing to one of the names, 'regularly rants about it; he is like a madman.' 'He does go rather far, but it is quite necessary, as you will hear. Oh, Nuttie, if you would only be one of us! I've brought a card! If you would!' 'Why, what's the use, Gerard! I don't like wine, I never do drink it, except a little claret-cup sometimes when I can't get water.' 'Then it would cost you nothing.' 'Yes, it would. It would make me ridiculous.' 'You used not to heed the sneers of the world.' 'Not for anything worth doing--but this is not.' 'It is the greatest cause of the day!' he cried, in an eager exalted manner, which somewhat inclined her to laugh. 'Do away with alcohol and you would do away with crime!' 'Thank you for the compliment, Gerard; I never found that the infinitesimal drop of alcohol that I suppose there is in a tumbler of claret-cup disposed me to commit crimes.' 'Why won't you understand me, Ursula! Can't you give up that for the sake of saving others!' 'I wonder whom it would save.' 'Example saves! If you put on this'--taking out the badge--'how many should you not lead at your home?' 'Just nobody! Mother and I should have a bad time of it, that's all.' 'And if you endured, what would not your testimony effect in the household and village?' 'Nothing! I have nothing to do with the men-servants, and as to the village, it is very sober. There's only one public house, and that is kept by Uncle William's old butler, and is as orderly as can be.' 'Ah! that's the way you all deceive yourselves. Moderate drinkers are ten times more mischievous than regular drunkards.' 'Thank you, Gerard! And outrageous abstainers are more mischievous than either of them, because they make the whole thing so utterly foolish and absurd.' She was really angry now, and so was Gerard. 'Is that your ultimatum?' he asked, in a voice that he strove to render calm. 'Certainly; I'm not going to take the pledge.' Having quarrelled in childhood, made quarrelling now easier, and Gerard answered bitterly: 'Very well, I hope you will have no cause to repent it.' ''Tis not the way to make me repent it, to see how it seems to affect some people's common sense. It is just as if all your brains had run to water!' said Nuttie, laughing a little; but Gerard was desperately serious, and coloured vehemently. 'Very well, Miss Egremont, I understand. I have had my answer,' he said, gathering up his papers and marching out of the room.