‘What do I care?’ he replied, waving his arm. ‘Let them think what they like. I must find Alice.’
Adela saw in a moment all that his absence would involve. He could of course explain subsequently, but in the meantime vast harm would have been done. It was impossible to neglect the meeting altogether. She ran after him and stopped him on the pavement.
‘I will go to this meeting for you,’ she said. ‘A cab will take me there and bring me back. I will let them know what keeps you away.’
He looked at her with astonishment.
‘You! How can you go? Among those men?’
‘Surely I have nothing to fear from them? Have you lost all your faith suddenly? You cannot go, but someone must. I will speak to them so that they cannot but believe me. You continue the search; I will go.’
They stood together in the pouring rain. Mutimer caught her hand.
‘I never knew what a wife could be till now,’ he exclaimed hoarsely. ‘And I never knew you!’
‘Find me a cab and give the man the address. I will be ready in an instant.’
Her cheeks were on fire; her nerves quivered with excitement. She had made the proposal almost involuntarily; only his thanks gave her some understanding of what she was about to do. But she did not shrink; a man’s—better still, a woman’s—noblest courage throbbed in her. If need were, she too could stand forward in a worthy cause and speak the truth undauntedly.