behind
her neck, gave exquisite relief to features of the purest Greek type. In
listening to anything that held her attention her eyes grew large, and their
dark orbs seemed to dream passionately. The white swan's down at her throat -
she was perfectly attired - made the skin above resemble rich-hued marble, and
indeed to gaze at her long was to be impressed as by the sad loveliness of a
supreme work of art. As Mutimer talked she leaned forward, her elbow on her
knee, the back of her hand supporting her chin.
    Her husband recounted what Richard had told him, and the latter proceeded to
sketch the projects he had in view.
    »My idea is,« he said, »to make the mines at Wanley the basis of great
industrial undertakings, just as any capitalist might, but to conduct these
undertakings in a way consistent with our views. I would begin by building
furnaces, and in time add engineering works on a large scale. I would build
houses for the men, and in fact make that valley an industrial settlement
conducted on Socialist principles. Practically I can devote the whole of my
income; my personal expenses will not be worth taking into account. The men must
be paid on a just scheme, and the margin of profit that remains, all that we can
spare from the extension of the works, shall be devoted to the Socialist
propaganda. In fact, I should like to make the executive committee of the Union
a sort of board of directors - and in a very different sense from the usual -
for the Wanley estate. My personal expenditure deducted, I should like such a
committee to have the practical control of funds. All this wealth was made by
plunder of the labouring class, and I shall hold it as trustee for them. Do
these ideas seem to you of a practical colour?«
    Mr. Westlake nodded slowly twice. His wife kept her listening attitude
unchanged; her eyes dreamed against a distant goal.
    »As I see the scheme,« pursued Richard, who spoke all along somewhat in the
lecture-room tone, the result of a certain embarrassment, »it will differ
considerably from the Socialist experiments we know of. We shall be working not
only to support ourselves, but every bit as much set on profit as any capitalist
in Belwick. The difference is, that the profit will benefit no individual, but
the Cause. There'll be no attempt to carry out the idea of every man receiving
the just outcome of his labour; not because I shouldn't be willing to share in
that way