 seems to me that Westlake's going off on a
road of his own, and one that leads nowhere. All that twaddle to-day about the
development of society! I don't think he spoke of me as he might have done.
You'll see there won't be half a report in the Fiery Cross.«
    Adela was still silent.
    »I don't mean to say you're not to see Mrs. Westlake at all, if you want
to,« he pursued. »I shouldn't have thought she was the kind of woman to suit
you. If the truth was known, I don't think she's a Socialist at all. But then,
no more are you, eh?«
    »There is no one with a more passionate faith in the people than Mrs.
Westlake,« Adela returned.
    »Faith! That won't do much good.«
    He was silent a little, then went to another subject.
    »Rodman writes that he's no intention of giving up the money. I knew it
would come to that.«
    »But the law will compel him,« Adela exclaimed.
    »It's a roundabout business. Eldon's only way of recovering it is to bring
an action against me. Then I shall have to go to law with Rodman.«
    »But how can he refuse? It is -«
    She checked herself, remembering that words were two-edged.
    »Oh, he writes in quite a friendly way - makes a sort of joke of it. We've
to get what we can of him, he says. But he doesn't get off if I can help it. I
must see Yottle on our way to-morrow.«
    »Keene wants me to write a book about New Wanley,« he said presently.
    »A book?«
    »Well, a small one. It could be called, My Work at New Wanley. It might do
good.«
    »Yes, it might,« Adela assented absently.
    »You look tired. Get off to bed; you'll have to be up early in the morning,
and it'll be a hard day.«
    Adela went, hopeful of oblivion till the hard day should dawn.
    The next morning they were in Belwick by half-past nine, Alfred took leave
of them and went off to business. He promised to look them up in London before
very long, probably at Christmas. Between him and Mutimer there was make-believe
of cordiality
