'Come, come!' said Dalmaine, laughing with appearance of entering into the joke. 'At that rate, English freedom would soon be at an end. One might as well abolish newspapers.' 'In my opinion, the one greatest boon that could be granted the working class. I do my best to dissuade them from the reading of newspapers.' Dalmaine turned the whole matter into a jest. Secretly he believed that Egremont was poking contemptuous fun at him, but it was his principle to receive everything with good-humour. They drew apart again, each feeling more strongly than ever the instinctive opposition between their elements. It amounted to a reciprocal dislike, an irritation provoked by each other's presence. Dalmaine was beginning to suspect Egremont of some scheme too deep for his fathoming; it was easier for him to believe anything, than that idealism pure and simple was at the bottom of such behaviour. Walter, on the other hand, viewed the politician's personality with something more than contempt. Dalmaine embodied those forces of philistinism, that essence of the vulgar creed, which Egremont had undertaken to attack, and which, as he already felt, were likely to yield as little before his efforts as a stone wall under the blow of a naked hand. Two such would do well to keep apart. On returning to the drawing-room, Egremont kept watch for a vacant place by Paula. Presently he was able to move to her side. She spread her fan upon her lap, and, ruffling its edge of white fur, said negligently: 'So you decided to waste an evening, Mr. Egremont.' 'I decided to have an evening of rest and enjoyment.' 'I suppose you are working dreadfully hard. When do you open your library?' 'Scarcely in less than four or five months.' 'And will you stand at the counter and give out books, like the young men at Mudie's?' 'Sometimes, I dare say. But I have found a librarian.' 'Who is he?' 'A working man in Lambeth. One of the most sympathetic natures I have ever met; a man who might have gone on all his life making candles--that is how things are arranged.' 'Making candles? What a funny change of occupation! And you really think you are doing good in that disagreeable place?' 'I can only hope.' 'You are quite sure you are not doing harm?' 'Does it seem to you that I am?' Paula assumed an air of wisdom. 'Of course I have no right to speak of such things, but it is my opinion that you are destroying their sense of self-respect. I don't think they ought to have things _given_ them; they should be encouraged to help themselves.' He examined her face. It was obvious that this profound sentiment had not taken birth in Paula's charming little head, and he guessed from whom she had derived it. 'I have no doubt Mr. Dalmaine would agree with you,' he said smiling. 'I believe I have heard him say something of the kind.' 'I'm glad to hear it. Mr. Dalmaine is an authority in such matters.' 'And I, the very reverse of one?'