'And then you were young--you were not yet a student--you went into society. You saw girls and danced with them. Yet you never fell in love, and were never married. How strange! I thought everybody wanted love. A man's real life only begins, I have always been taught, with love and marriage. Love means everything.' 'To you, my child, no doubt it does. Such as you are born for love,' he added gallantly. 'Venus herself smiles in your eyes and sits upon your lips. But as for me I was always studious more or less, though I did not for long find out my true line. I worked hard--I went out very little. I was cold by nature, perhaps. I had no time to think about such things. Now, when it is too late, I regret the loss of the experience. Doubtless if I had that experience I should have gained greatly in the power of persuasion. I should have a much more potent influence over the women among my hearers. If I were a married man I should be much more in sympathy with them.' 'No--n--no.' Elsie hesitated a little. 'Perhaps women--especially the younger kind--get on better with unmarried men. However, you were not married.' 'At first, then, I was a solicitor with my father. Then--presently----' His face put on the troubled look again. 'You continued,' Elsie interrupted quickly, 'to work at your profession, though you took up other studies.' 'No--no--not quite that.' 'You began to take up Social problems, and gradually abandoned your profession.' 'No--no--not that either--quite.' 'You found you could not reconcile your conscience any longer to defending Property.' 'No--I forget exactly. It is strange that one should forget a thing so simple. I am growing old, I suppose.--Well--it matters not. I left the profession. That is the only important thing to remember. That I did so these Chambers prove. I came out of it. Yes, that was it. Just at the moment, my head being full of other things, I cannot remember the exact time, or the manner of my leaving the profession. I forget the circumstances, probably because I attached so little importance to it. The real point is that I came out of it and gave myself up to these studies.' She noted this important point carefully and looked up for more. 'There, my dear child, is my whole life for you. Without an incident or an episode. I was born: I went to school: I became a solicitor: I gave up my profession: I studied social economy: I made my great discovery: I preached it. Then--did I say my life was without an episode and without love? No--no--I was wrong. My daughter--I have at last found love and a child--and a disciple. What more have I to ask?' 'My Master!' No daughter could be more in sympathy with him than this girl.