"Did I denounce the political woman? Well, the Lord knows I'm not in love with her now! It isn't politics, my dear, that are attaching--it's the kind of human being. Ah! well, don't let's talk of it. Let's go back to that point of sympathy. There's more in it than I used to think. Suppose, for instance, you were to try and take a little more interest in my political work than you do? Suppose you were to try and see money matters from my point of view, instead of driving us"--he paused a moment, then went on coolly, lifting his thin, long-chinned face to her as she stood quivering beside him--"driving us into expenses that will, sooner or later, be the ruin of us--that rob us, too, of self-respect. Suppose you were to take a little more account, also, of my taste in people? I am afraid I don't like Harding, though he is your cousin, and I don't certainly see why he should furnish our drawing-rooms and empty our purse for us as he has been doing. Then, as to Lord Cathedine, I'm really not over-particular, but when I hear that fellow's in the house, my impulse is to catch the nearest hansom and drive away from it. I heard him speak to his wife to-night in a way for which he ought to be kicked down Oxford Street--and, in general, I should say that it takes the shine off a person to be much seen with Cathedine." The calm attitude--the voice, just a shade interrogative, exasperated Letty still more. She, too, sat down, her cheeks flaming. "I am _extremely_ obliged to you! You really couldn't have been more frank. I am sorry that _nothing_ I do pleases you. You must be quite sorry by now you married me--but really I didn't force you! Why should I give up my friends? You know very well you won't give up Lady Maxwell." She looked at him keenly, her little foot beating the ground. George started. "But what is there to give up?" he cried. "Come and see her yourself--come with me, and make friends with her. You would be quite welcome." But as he spoke he knew that he was talking absurdly, and that Letty had reason for her laugh. "Thank you! Lady Maxwell made it _quite_ plain to me at Castle Luton that she didn't want _my_ acquaintance. I certainly sha'n't force myself upon her any more. But if you'll give up going to see her--well, perhaps I'll see what can be done to meet your wishes; though, of course, I think all you say about Harding and Lord Cathedine is just unreasonable prejudice!" George was silent. His mind was torn between the pricks of a conscience that told him Letty had in truth, as far as he was concerned, a far more real grievance than she imagined, and a passionate intellectual contempt for the person who could even distantly imagine that Marcella Maxwell belonged to the same category as other women, and was to be won by the same arts as they. At last he broke out impatiently: