in. Something more than the fate of that poor
family was at stake. Is not the quality of mercy indispensable to true
nobleness? Had she voiced her very thought, Adela would have implored
him to exalt himself in her eyes, to do a good deed which cost him some
little effort over himself. For she divined with cruel certainty that it
was not the principle that made him unyielding.

'Richard, are you sure that the man has offended before?'

'Oh, of course he has. I've no doubt of it. I remember feeling uncertain
when I admitted him first of all. I didn't like his look.'

'But you have not really had to complain of him before. Your suspicions
_may_ be groundless. And he has a good wife, I feel sure of that. The
children are very clean and nicely dressed. She will help him to avoid
drink in future. It is impossible for him to fail again, now that
he knows how dreadful the results will be to his wife and his little
girls.'

'Pooh! What does he care about them? If I begin letting men off in that
way, I shall be laughed at. There's an end of my authority. Don't bother
your head about them. I must go and get ready for dinner.'

An end of _my_ authority. Yes, was it not the intelligence of her maiden
heart returning to her? She had no pang from the mere refusal of a
request of hers; Richard had never affected tenderness--not what she
understood as tenderness--and she did not expect it of him. The union
between them had another basis. But the understanding of his motives was
so terribly distinct in her! It had come all at once; it was like the
exposure of something dreadful by the sudden raising of a veil. And had
she not known what the veil covered? Yet for the poor people's sake, for
his own sake, she must try the woman's argument.

'Do you refuse me, Richard? I will be guarantee for him. I promise you
he shall not offend again. He shall apologise humbly to you for his--his
words. You won't really refuse me?'

'What nonsense! How can you promise for him, Adela? Ask for something
reasonable, and you may be sure I shan't refuse you. The fellow has
to go as a warning. It mustn't be thought we're only playing at making
rules. I can't talk any more; I shall keep dinner waiting.'

Pride helped her to show a smooth face through the evening, and in the
night she conquered herself anew. She expelled those crying children
from her mind; she hardened her heart against their coming misery. It
was wrong to judge her husband so summaril