
it. Dr. Shrapnel is accustomed to give a little country feast to the children I
teach, and their parents if they choose to come, and they generally do. They are
driven to Northeden Heath, where we set up a booth for them, and try with cakes
and tea and games to make them spend one of their happy afternoons and evenings.
We succeed, I know, for the little creatures talk of it and look forward to the
day. When they are at their last romp, Dr. Shrapnel speaks to the parents.«
    »Can he obtain a hearing?« Rosamund asked.
    »He has not so very large a crowd to address, madam, and he is much beloved
by those that come.«
    »He speaks to them of politics on those occasions?«
    »Adouci à leur intention. It is not a political speech, but Dr. Shrapnel
thinks, that in a so-called free country seeking to be really free, men of the
lowest class should be educated in forming a political judgement.«
    »And women too?«
    »And women, yes. Indeed, madam, we notice that the women listen very
creditably.«
    »They can put on the air.«
    »I am afraid, not more than the men do. To get them to listen is something.
They suffer like the men, and must depend on their intelligence to win their way
out of it.«
    Rosamund's meditation was exclamatory: What can be the age of this
pretentious girl?
    An afterthought turned her more conciliatorily toward the person, but less
to the subject. She was sure that she was lending ear to the echo of the
dangerous doctor, and rather pitied Miss Denham for awhile, reflecting that a
young woman stuffed with such ideas would find it hard to get a husband. Mention
of Nevil revived her feeling of hostility.
    »We had seen a gentleman standing near and listening attentively,« Miss
Denham resumed, »and when Dr. Shrapnel concluded a card was handed to him. He
read it and gave it to me, and said, You know that name. It was a name we had
often talked about during the war. He went to Captain Beauchamp and shook his
hand. He does not pay many compliments, and he does not like to receive them,
but it was impossible for him not to be moved by Captain Beauchamp's warmth in
thanking him for the words he had spoken. I saw that Dr. Shrapnel became
interested in Captain Beauchamp the longer they conversed. We walked home
together. Captain Beauchamp supped with
