"My aunt! Oh, Mrs. King! She is very well indeed, thank you, Dr. Duncan; but I did not know you were even aware of her existence."
"I only heard, by accident, the other day, that she was your aunt, and that you lived with her; but I have known of her existence for years."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Mary.
"Oh, yes! She used to speak and lecture on woman's rights, on the abolition of the House of Lords, and such like questions. I heard her several times: very eloquent she was too. I was rather a Radical myself then, but I have changed my views since.... I trust you do not follow your aunt in all her opinions, Miss King?" and he looked rather anxiously at her.
"I think I do, Dr. Duncan."
There was a silence for a while. The man was evidently troubled, and was carefully pondering his next remark. Mary regarded him furtively, wondering what was coming.
"Some of your aunt's views are rather startling," he said. He was thinking of one of her speeches he had heard, in which she had upheld the unsavoury teachings of Mr. Bradlaugh, and had declared her favourite opinions as to the abominable nature of religion and morality.
"Startling! yes, I suppose they are startling—truth often is so," she replied.
"Is it truth?"
"Is what truth?" and she turned and looked him full in the face.