or a moment, as if not quite sure of her
meaning. Then he smiled and shook his head.

"You don't understand. One of the principles of our plan is to be
beholden to no one. We can't accept gifts. You see--we want no
vestries." There was a note of bitterness in his voice.

"But I--surely--" He sensed that she was a little hurt.

"We take up a collection. You might drop in some night, and then--if you
cared to...."

"Yes," she said thoughtfully, "I'll come."

They were silent for a little while, but it was a silence in which there
was no consciousness of the flight of time.

"Who are your speakers?" asked Judith finally, already feeling that she
had a personal share in the enterprise. "Clergymen?"

"Sometimes. But that's not essential. It's the man we seek--not the
creed. We want anyone with a message. We've had all kinds. You see,
we're not engaged in propaganda--rather we're spreading the truth--as
all kinds of men see it. We're committed to nothing. It's a good deal
like _The Dispatch_--no policy but the truth. By the way, how's that
going?"

"As well as could be expected, I suppose," said Judith with an apathy
which did not escape him. "I really have very little to do with it."

"That's natural."

"I suppose so. Anyway, Mr. Good and Roger need no assistance from me."

"Is Roger really active?"

"Indeed he is. He used to be rather submissive to me, but now he acts as
if I really knew very little about it. I'm glad he does, too. It shows
he's grown up. The best thing about _The Dispatch_ is what it's done for
Roger."

"No, it isn't," said Imrie soberly. "That's a good thing, of course. I'm
delighted. But it's not the best thing--not by a long way. Frankly I was
sceptical about _The Dispatch_ at first. I thought your friend Good was
just a crank. But the paper's gone ahead so splendidly. It's done such a
really wonderful work--and then, you see, when I waked up, I saw things
differently. The people I've been in contact with lately have made me
understand Good. I used rather to dislike him. I honestly admire him
now."

"Yes," said Judith quietly, "he is rather admirable." Something in her
voice made Imrie study her narrowly. A wistful look crept into his eyes,
and he was silent. Judith, subconsciously, realised the change in him
and she hastened to shift the topic.

"But this work doesn't take all your time, does it? What else are you
doing?" She rather expected a denial, and his reply surprised her.