e marriage of convenience, I know. Isn't Martin to have
his choice?"

"Of course he shall have every choice. I'm not one to bluster or give
orders or interfere. He's going to marry the girl, not I. I know
that. But I'd like him to think a little first. Do consider the
facts. Freda is clever and quick. Perhaps she really cares for
Martin, perhaps she's only sick to death of the hellish existence
decreed by modern civilisation for penniless orphans of the female sex.
But she has lived in a groove, she has never met people--not the kind
of people she'd run up against in India. She doesn't like games or
society. She likes talking and arguing and lying in bed. She'd hate
the Anglo-Indian just as she hates any kind of pomp and circumstance.
She hasn't the vaguest notion as to what they'll expect of her. Worse
still, she hasn't even health. She would be invalided home in a year
and Martin with a salary of three or perhaps four hundred a year would
have to support a wife whom he only saw on leave. You've got to
consider his career and his general happiness. There is no reason why
he shouldn't find a woman who understands the kind of life and
behaviour, a woman who could fit in, and yet has brains and charm
enough for an intelligent person."

"Mary Brodrick?" suggested Mrs Berrisford. "The kind of girl who sings
about her caravan resting after dinner?"

"We needn't go as far as that. Something between the two."

"You're a heartless old schemer, John. We must respect his choice."

"Absolutely. But I'm fairly confident about the result. Anyhow there
is plenty of time and it's Martin's first affair."

"Are you sure?"

"I have watched the signs of times. This is the first time he has
taken a month to see the varsity match."

"But he is stubborn when he has once settled on a thing. He doesn't
decide quickly, I know, but when he has he is firm."

"We'll see. As it is, I suppose you must have her down for Easter. I
got her her present job and I know her employers well. I can easily
get them to allow her a holiday then. And when we've got them, we must
leave them very much alone."

"But surely----"

"My dear, it's the only hope. Keep them apart, hint at the
unsuitability of marriage, and they'll elope on nothing in a
fortnight's time. That's quite certain. My idea is to bang them
together fairly hard. I don't want it to hurt, but I do want them to
have a clear idea as to what they are both mad