"It's possible." There was a touch of haughtiness in Beatrice's tone. "Ralph Kenwyne has always been something of a revolutionary; and we know where Broadwood gets his ideas."
"From his wife? You can't expect me to condemn them. She was brought up as I was and thinks as I do."
Beatrice saw she was not beginning well and changed her ground.
"After all, that's not an important point. I suppose you know my father is bitterly opposed to your plans?"
"I was afraid so. It's unfortunate."
"Then can't you see that it would be better to give them up?"
Harding felt disturbed but determined. He was keenly anxious to please the girl, but to yield in this matter would be to act against his principles. She did not know what she was asking.
"No," he said; "I can't see that."
"Do you consider it good taste to encourage our friends to thwart their acknowledged leader?"
"It looks bad, as you put it," Harding replied. "For all that, a leader's business is to lead. He can't keep his followers standing still when they want to move on. Their wishes must be respected. Despotic authority's out of date."