of time before her, and when James became
her husband she would have abundant opportunity of raising him to that
exalted level upon which she was so comfortably settled. The influence
of a simple Christian woman could not fail to have effect; at bottom
James was as good as gold, and she was clever enough to guide him
insensibly along the right path.

James, perceiving this, scarcely knew whether to be incensed or amused.
Sometimes he could see the humour in Mary's ingenuous conceit, and in
the dogmatic assurance with which she uttered the most astounding
opinions; but at others, when she waved aside superciliously a remark
that did not square with her prejudices, or complacently denied a
statement because she had never heard it before, he was irritated beyond
all endurance. And it was nothing very outrageous he said, but merely
some commonplace of science which all the world had accepted for twenty
years. Mary, however, entrenched herself behind the impenetrable rock of
her self-sufficiency.

"I'm not clever enough to argue with you," she said; "but I know I'm
right; and I'm quite satisfied."

Generally she merely smiled.

"What nonsense you talk, Jamie! You don't really believe what you say."

"But, my dear Mary, it's a solemn fact. There's no possibility of
doubting it. It's a truism."

Then with admirable self-command, remembering that James was still an
invalid, she would pat his hand and say:

"Well, it doesn't matter. Of course, you're much cleverer than I am. It
must be almost time for your beef-tea."

James sank back, baffled. Mary's ignorance was an impenetrable cuirass;
she would not try to understand, she could not even realise that she
might possibly be mistaken. Quite seriously she thought that what she
ignored could be hardly worth knowing. People talk of the advance of
education; there may be a little among the lower classes, but it is
inconceivable that the English gentry can ever have been more illiterate
than they are now. Throughout the country, in the comfortable villa or
in the stately mansion, you will find as much prejudice and superstition
in the drawing-room as in the kitchen; and you will find the masters
less receptive of new ideas than their servants; and into the bargain,
presumptuously satisfied with their own nescience.

James saw that the only way to deal with Mary and with his people was to
give in to all their prejudices. He let them talk, and held his tongue.
He shut himself