who had reasons for wishing to get his brother-in-law aside for a little
quiet talk. Rodman had large views, was at present pondering a financial scheme
in which he needed a partner - one with capital of course. He knew that New
Wanley was proving anything but a prosperous concern, commercially speaking; he
divined, moreover, that Mutimer was not wholly satisfied with the state of
affairs. By judicious management the Socialist might even be induced to abandon
the non-paying enterprise, and, though not perhaps ostensibly, embark in one
that promised very different results - at all events to Mr. Rodman. The scheme
was not of mushroom growth; it dated from a time but little posterior to Mr.
Rodman's first meeting with Alice Mutimer. 'Arry had been granted appetising
sniffs at the cookery in progress, though the youth was naturally left without
precise information as to the ingredients. The result was a surprising
self-restraint on 'Arry's part. The influence which poor Keene had so bunglingly
tried to obtain over him, the more astute Mr. Rodman had compassed without
difficulty; beginning with the loan of small sums, to be repaid when 'Arry
attained his majority, he little by little made the prospective man of capital
the creature of his directions; in something less than two more years Rodman
looked to find ample recompense for his expenditure and trouble. But that was a
mere parergon; to secure Richard Mutimer was the great end steadily held in
view.
    Rodman and his wife came to Wanley to spend three days before all together
set out for the Continent. Adela accepted the course of things, and abandoned
herself to the stream. For a week her husband had been milder; we know the
instinct that draws the cat's paws from the flagging mouse.
    Alice, no longer much interested in novels, must needs talk with some one;
she honoured Adela with much of her confidence, seeming to forget and forgive,
in reality delighted to recount her London experiences to her poor tame
sister-in-law. Alice, too, had been at moments introduced to her husband's
kitchen; she threw out vague hints of a wonderful repast in preparation.
    »Willis is going to buy me a house in Brighton,« she said, among other
things. »I shall run down whenever I feel it would do me good. You've no idea
how kind he is.«
    There was, in fact, an advancement clause in Alice's deed of settlement. If
Mr. Rodman showed himself particularly anxious to cultivate the friendship of
Mr.