"I cannot give them up."
He was silent a moment.
"If that is so"—he said at last—"I must do my best to protect you."
"I don't want any protection!"
"I am a magistrate, as well as your guardian. You must allow me to judge. There is a very bitter feeling abroad, after these—outrages—of the last few days. The village where you are going to speak has some rowdy elements—drawn from the brickfields near it. You will certainly want protection. I shall see that you get it."
He spoke with decision. Delia bit her lip.
"We prefer to risk our lives," she said at last. "I mean—there isn't any risk!—but if there were—our lives are nothing in comparison with the cause!"
"You won't expect your friends to agree with you," he said drily; then, still holding her with an even keener look, he added—
"And there is another point in connection with these meetings which distresses me. I see that you are speaking on the same platform—with Mr. Paul Lathrop—"
"And why not?"—she flashed, the colour rushing to her cheeks.