, Mutimer proposed to take his wife for a week the Sussex
coast. He wanted a brief rest himself, and he saw that Adela was yet
more in need of change. She never complained of ill-health, but was weak
and pale. With no inducement to leave the house, it was much if she
had an hour's open-air exercise in the week; often the mere exertion
of rising and beginning the day was followed by a sick languor which
compelled her to lie all the afternoon on the couch. She studied much,
reading English and foreign books which required mental exertion. They
were rot works relating to the 'Social Question'--far other. The volumes
she used to study were a burden and a loathing to her as often as her
eyes fell upon them.

In her letters from Wanley there was never a word of what was going on
in the valley. Week after week she looked eagerly for some hint, yet was
relieved when she found none. For it had become her habit to hand over
to Mutimer every letter she received. He read them.

Shortly after their return from the seaside, 'Arry's term of
imprisonment came to an end. He went to his mother's house, and Richard
first saw him there. Punishment had had its usual effect; 'Arry was
obstinately taciturn, conscious of his degradation, inwardly at war with
all his kind.

'There's only one thing I can do for you now,' his brother said to him.
'I'll pay your passage to Australia. Then you must shift for yourself.'

'Arry refused the offer.

'Give me the money instead,' was his reply.

Argument was vain; Richard and the old woman passed to entreaty, but
with as little result.

'Give me ten pounds and let me go about my business,' 'Arry exclaimed
irritably. 'I want no more from you, and you won't get any good out o'
me by jawin'.'

The money was of course refused, in the hope that a week or two would
change the poor fellow's mind. But two days after he went out and did
not return. Nothing was heard of him. Mrs. Mutimer sat late every night,
listening for a knock at the door. Sometimes she went and stood on the
steps, looking hither and thither in the darkness. But 'Arry came no
more to Wilton Square.

Mutimer had been pressing on his scheme for five months. Every night he
addressed a meeting somewhere or other in the East End; every Sunday
he lectured morning and evening at his head-quarters in Clerkenwell.
Ostensibly he was working on behalf of the Union, but in reality he was
forming a party of his own, and would have started a pape