le
for such a serious turn of the wheel? Would you give her no voice in
the matter--treat her as if she were a mere child?"

"She is very little more than a child."

"Indeed, Theo, she is a great deal more. She is a woman, ... and a
wife. The woman's soul isn't fully awake in her yet; but it may come
awake any day. And then--how would she feel if she ever found out----"

"She never would----"

"How can you tell? Women find out most things about the men they--care
for. It's a risk not worth running. Would she even acquiesce if you
put the matter before her now, child as she is?"

"Frankly, I don't know. Possibly not. She isn't able to see ahead
much, or look all round a subject."

"Shall you be very angry if I say that you haven't yet looked
thoroughly round this one? The idea probably came to you as an
impulse--a very fine impulse, I admit; and, instead of fairly weighing
pros and cons, you have simply been hunting up excuses that will
justify you in carrying it out; because, for the moment, Evelyn seems
a little discontented with things in general."

The hard lines about his mouth relaxed.

"You _are_ speaking straight with a vengeance, Honor!"

"I know I am. It's necessary sometimes, when people are--obstinate!"
And she smiled frankly into his troubled face. "Oh, believe me, it's
fatal for the man to throw all his life out of gear on account of the
woman. It's putting things the wrong way about altogether. In
accepting her husband, a woman must be prepared to accept his life and
work also."

"But, suppose she can't realise either till--too late?"

"That's a drawback. But if she really cares, it can still be done. I
am jealous for Evelyn. I want her to have the chance of showing that
she has good stuff in her. Give her the chance, Theo; and if she
doesn't quite rise to it, don't feel that you are in any way to
blame."

"I'd be bound to feel that."

"Then I can only say it would be very wrong-headed of you." Her eyes
softened to a passing tenderness nevertheless. "Let the blame, if
there is any, rest on my shoulders; and we'll hope that the need may
never arise. Now, have I said enough? Will you--_will_ you leave
things as they are, and put aside your impossible notion for good?"

The urgency of her request so touched him that he answered with a
readiness which surprised himself.

"No question but you're a friend worth having! I promise you this
much, Honor. I will think very thoroughly over it all,