ar little thing; and
you've no notion what she's suffering. I was never much for religion
nor against it, but it can't be right to let her do this, and you
ought to persuade her out of it. Of course everybody will say it was
very good and forgiving of 'ee to take her to 'ee again. But for my
part I don't."

"It's her wish, and I am willing," said Phillotson with grave
reserve, opposition making him illogically tenacious now. "A great
piece of laxity will be rectified."

"I don't believe it. She's his wife if anybody's. She's had three
children by him, and he loves her dearly; and it's a wicked shame to
egg her on to this, poor little quivering thing! She's got nobody
on her side. The one man who'd be her friend the obstinate creature
won't allow to come near her. What first put her into this mood o'
mind, I wonder!"

"I can't tell. Not I certainly. It is all voluntary on her part.
Now that's all I have to say." Phillotson spoke stiffly. "You've
turned round, Mrs. Edlin. It is unseemly of you!"

"Well. I knowed you'd be affronted at what I had to say; but I don't
mind that. The truth's the truth."

"I'm not affronted, Mrs. Edlin. You've been too kind a neighbour
for that. But I must be allowed to know what's best for myself and
Susanna. I suppose you won't go to church with us, then?"

"No. Be hanged if I can... I don't know what the times be coming
to! Matrimony have growed to be that serious in these days that one
really do feel afeard to move in it at all. In my time we took it
more careless; and I don't know that we was any the worse for it!
When I and my poor man were jined in it we kept up the junketing all
the week, and drunk the parish dry, and had to borrow half a crown
to begin housekeeping!"

When Mrs. Edlin had gone back to her cottage Phillotson spoke
moodily. "I don't know whether I ought to do it--at any rate quite
so rapidly."

"Why?"

"If she is really compelling herself to this against her
instincts--merely from this new sense of duty or religion--I ought
perhaps to let her wait a bit."

"Now you've got so far you ought not to back out of it. That's my
opinion."

"I can't very well put it off now; that's true. But I had a qualm
when she gave that little cry at sight of the licence."

"Now, never you have qualms, old boy. I mean to give her away
to-morrow morning, and you mean to take her. It has always been on
my conscience that I didn't urge more objections