‘I repeat, that I ought possibly to have consulted you earlier on this subject, and I am not at all astonished at your surprise. I never thought to have married a second time. My first experience, as you know, was not encouraging, and since her death you have made my home very happy. My dear Margaret, forgive me if I have seemed unkind, but setting aside the reasons to which I have alluded, I thought it better not to speak of this until I had spoken to Miss Vere. Well, I have spoken, and I thought you ought to know the result. That is why I took you to the theatre. That is why I have spoken.’ He paused again. This time his sister replied-- ‘Of course, James, you are your own master. I have no right to object.’ ‘That is not the question,’ he cried impatiently. ‘I should certainly take no important step in life without consulting you. I am to understand, then, that you object?’ ‘Most certainly.’ ‘To my marrying?’ ‘No, James. To your marrying a person in Miss Vere’s position.’ Forster rose to his feet with an angry exclamation. ‘Her position is as good as mine. I am a clod, she is a genius.’ ‘She is not a lady,’ returned Margaret, compressing her lips firmly. ‘Good heavens, what do you mean? There is not a whisper against her, she is divinely gifted, all the world is raving about her. Not a lady! she is a queen!’ Margaret smiled--a cold sickly smile of supreme feminine pity. Irritated by the smile, and driven out of his usual reticence by the wine he had taken at supper, Forster took a rapid turn round the room, and then, turning back to his sister, cried in a voice broken with agitation-- II thought you above these shameful prejudices. The profession of an actress is one of the noblest under the sun. The same insane bigotry which still pursues theatrical performers persecuted until lately all the arts, literature and painting more particularly. At the bottom of it all is the Church--the Church which denied Adrienne Lecouvreur Christian burial, and which from the beginning of time has been the enemy of light, freedom, knowledge.’ He was going on in the same strain when his sister quietly interfered-- ‘My dear James, how absurd! I am very fond of the theatre, as you know.’ ‘But you despise those who act.’ ‘Nothing of the kind. I only desire to see them in their proper place in society.’ ‘Where is that, pray?’ ‘Among themselves--in their own artistic world. In point of fact, they are much happier there.’ ‘Stop a moment, Margaret,’ said Forster, with a short, excited laugh. ‘You speak of their world. What is mine? To what sphere do I belong?’ ‘You? My dear James, you are a merchant and a gentleman.’