Sebastian did not answer. He was still looking towards Hugo and Helena, and felt intensely conscious of the ripple of laughter which scarcely ceased between them. It was impossible that women’s rights, or any such bristly, hateful topic could be causing that delighted look on Hugo’s dark, artist face; could call that gracious curve to Helena’s red lips. Hugo threw himself with passion into the joy of the moment, as Sebastian knew; Helena seemed to have something of his eager, inflammable temperament. At least they appeared to be very happy together. * * * * * Dinner over; a group of four congregated in a corner. Helena on a sofa, with Hugo beside her; Sebastian and Miss Mereweather facing one another in chairs, and the cross-examination about to begin. Helena had wished to leave Sebastian and Miss Mereweather to fight it out alone, but he had meekly suggested that it was not fair to make him confront the most remarkable woman of her age entirely without support; and Hugo adding his petition, Helena had consented to be present at the discussion. Helena seated herself, opened her fan, and said, ‘Now, Laura dear, Mr. Mallory would like to know your views on the Woman Question.’ She avoided meeting the look of sorrowful amazement and reproach with which Sebastian heard this decidedly exaggerated announcement, and Laura replied, ‘I should first wish to know Mr. Mallory’s own views upon that subject--_the_ subject, I may say, of the present age.’ ‘They are soon stated,’ said Sebastian. ‘I have none.’ ‘Then there is some hope for you,’ said Miss Mereweather, with rather a pitying smile. ‘I am glad of that. At the same time, I should like to know in which direction the hope shows itself.’ ‘Your frank acknowledgment of your utter ignorance of the question is a great point in your favour. As you have no views at all upon it, you are the more likely to be able to receive just ones when they are offered to you.’ ‘I have some preconceived ideas upon the matter of logic and reasonableness, common sense, and all that kind of thing. Will that be against me in this case, do you think?’ ‘I dislike flippancy,’ said Laura. ‘I did not mean to be flippant. I merely wished for information.’ ‘We will take the suffrage first,’ said Miss Mereweather, raising her voice somewhat, as if to scatter such irrelevant remarks to the winds. ‘Are you in favour of extending the franchise to women--I mean women-householders and ratepayers?’ ‘On what grounds?’ ‘On the only grounds on which they can claim it; on the grounds that they are mentally, morally, and, in the practical affairs of the world, the equal of man; and that, as they bear equal burdens for the State, so they should have equal privileges.’ ‘I could never grant them the suffrage on those grounds.’ ‘_What!_’ exclaimed both ladies, while Helena started forward, and dropped her fan, her eyes flashing, and her face flushing.