 and consequently strove against the prejudice which
the very sound of his voice aroused in her; it was her nature to aim thus at
equity in her personal judgments.
    »To describe hard things we must use hard words,« she replied pleasantly,
»but you said nothing that could offend.«
    »I fear you haven't much sympathy with my way of looking at the question. I
seem to you to be going to work the wrong way.«
    »I certainly think you value too little the means of happiness that we all
have within our reach, rich and poor alike.«
    »Ah, if you could only see into the life of the poor, you would acknowledge
that those means are and can be nothing to them. Besides, my way of thinking in
such things is the same as your brother's, and I can't expect you to see any
good in it.«
    Adela shook her head slightly. She had risen and was examining the leaves
upon an apple branch which she had drawn down.
    »But I'm sure you feel that there is need for doing something,« he urged,
quitting his seat. »You're not indifferent to the hard lives of the people, as
most people are who have always lived comfortable lives?«
    She let the branch spring up, and spoke more coldly.
    »I hope I am not indifferent, but it is not in my power to do anything.«
    »Will you let me say that you are mistaken in that?« Mutimer had never
before felt himself constrained to qualify and adorn his phrases; the necessity
made him awkward. Not only did he aim at polite modes of speech altogether
foreign to his lips, but his own voice sounded strange to him in its forced
suppression. He did not as yet succeed in regarding himself from the outside and
criticising the influences which had got hold upon him; he was only conscious
that a young lady - the very type of young lady that a little while ago he would
have held up for scorn - was subduing his nature by her mere presence and
exacting homage from him to which she was wholly indifferent. »Everyone can give
help in such a cause as this. You can work upon the minds of the people you talk
with and get them to throw away their prejudices. The cause of the working
classes seems so hopeless just because they're too far away to catch the ears of
those who oppress them.«
    »I do not oppress them, Mr. Mutimer.«
    Adela spoke with a touch of impatience. She wished
