emies. The
couple of hours he passed with her were spent in ceaseless encouragement
on her side, in violent tirades on his. He paced the room like a caged
lion, at one moment execrating Rodman, the next railing against the
mob to whose interests he had devoted himself. Now and then his voice
softened, and he spoke of Alice.

'The scoundrel set even her against me! If she lives, perhaps she'll
believe I'm guilty; how can my word stand against her husband's? Why, he
isn't her husband at all! It's a good thing if she dies--the best thing
that could happen. What will become of her? What are we to call her?
She's neither married nor single. Can we keep it from her, do you think?
No, that won't do; she must be free to marry an honest man. You'll try
and make friends with her, Adela--if ever you've the chance? She'll
have to live with us, of course unless she'd rather live with mother. We
mustn't tell her for a long time, till she's strong enough to bear it.'

He with difficulty ate a few mouthfuls and went off to Clerkenwell.
In the erstwhile dancing-saloon it was a night of tempest. Mutimer
had never before addressed an unfriendly audience. After the first few
interruptions he lost his temper, and with it his cause, as far as
these present hearers were concerned. When he left them, it was amid
the mutterings of a storm which was not quite--only not quite--ready to
burst in fury.

'Who knows you won't take yer 'ook before to-morrow?' cried a voice as
he neared the door.

'Wait and see!' Mutimer shouted in reply, with a savage laugh. 'I've a
word or two to say yet to blackguards like you.'

He could count on some twenty pairs of fists in the room, if it came to
that point; but he was allowed to depart unmolested.

On the way home he called at the hospital. There was no change in
Alice's condition.

The next day he remained at home till it was time to start for
Clerkenwell Green. He was all but worn out, and there was nothing of any
use to be done before the meeting assembled. Adela went for him to the
hospital and brought back still the same report. He ate fairly well of
his midday dinner, seeming somewhat calmer. Adela, foreseeing his main
danger, begged him to address the people without anger, assured him that
a dignified self-possession would go much farther than any amount of
blustering. He was induced to promise that he would follow her advice.

He purposed walking to the Green; the exercise would perhaps keep hi