‘You yourself agree with me that there would be nothing to repent in urging her.’
‘On the contrary, I think she might consider herself precious lucky. It’s only that’—he looked dubious for a moment—‘I’m not quite sure whether she’s the kind of girl to be content with a husband she found she couldn’t convert. I can imagine her marrying a rake on the hope of bringing him to regular churchgoing, but then Mutimer doesn’t happen to be a blackguard, so he isn’t very interesting to her.’
‘I know what you’re thinking of, but I don’t think we need take that into account. And, indeed, we can’t afford to take anything into account but her establishment in a respectable and happy home. Our choice, as you are aware, is not a wide one. I am often deeply anxious about the poor girl.’
‘I dare say. Well, what was your proposal?’
‘Do you think Letty could help us?’
‘H’m, can’t say. Might or might not. She’s as bad as Adela. Ten to one it’ll be a point of conscience with her to fight the project tooth and nail.’
‘I don’t think so. She has accepted you.’
‘So she has, to my amazement. Women are monstrously illogical. She must think of my latter end with mixed feelings.’
‘I do wish you were less flippant in dealing with grave subjects, Alfred. I assure you I am very much troubled. I feel that so much is at stake, and yet the responsibility of doing anything is so very great.’
‘Shall I talk it over with Letty?’