time why he had chosen Andersen's Tales for her readings; of many other
things which he had said, causing her doubt, the meaning was now clear
enough to her. She had so much to talk of with the vicar, so
many questions to put to him, not a few of a kind that would--she
thought--surprise and trouble him. None the less, they must be asked and
answered. Part of her desire to see him again was merely the result of
her longing for the society of well-read and thoughtful people. She
knew that he would appear to her in a different light from formerly; she
would be far better able to understand him.

She began by seeking his opinion of her husband's chances in Belwick.
Mr. Wyvern shook his head and said frankly that he thought there was no
chance at all. Mutimer was looked upon in the borough as a mischievous
interloper, who came to make disunion in the Radical party. The son of
a lord and an ironmaster of great influence were the serious candidates.
Had he seen fit, Mr. Wyvern could have mentioned not a few lively
incidents in the course of the political warfare; such, for instance, as
the appearance of a neat little pamphlet which purported to give a full
and complete account of Mutimer's life. In this pamphlet nothing untrue
was set down, nor did it contain anything likely to render its publisher
amenable to the law of libel; but the writer, a gentleman closely
connected with Comrade Roodhouse, most skilfully managed to convey the
worst possible impression throughout. Nor did the vicar hesitate to
express his regret that Mutimer should be seeking election at all. Adela
felt with him.

She found Richard in a strange state of chronic excitement. On whatever
subject he spoke it was with the same nervous irritation, and the
slightest annoyance set him fuming. To her he paid very little
attention, and for the most part seemed disinclined to converse with
her; Adela found it necessary to keep silence on political matters; once
or twice he replied to her questions with a rough impatience which kept
her miserable throughout the day, so much had it revealed of the working
man. As the election day approached she suffered from a sinking of the
heart, almost a bodily fear; a fear the same in kind as that of the
wretched woman who anticipates the return of a brute-husband late on
Saturday night. The same in kind; no reasoning would overcome it. She
worked hard all day long, that at night she might fall on deep sleep.
Again she had tak