'Indeed, no,' said Hetta, attempting to laugh, 'I have been trying to work hard at Dante, but one never does any good when one has to try to work. I was just going to bed when Mr Montague came in. What did you think of the wise men and the wise women, Roger?'
'I was out of my element, of course; but I think your mother liked it.'
'I was very glad indeed to meet Dr Palmoil. It seems that if we can only open the interior of Africa a little further, we can get everything that is wanted to complete the chemical combination necessary for feeding the human race. Isn't that a grand idea, Roger?'
'A little more elbow grease is the combination that I look to.'
'Surely, Roger, if the Bible is to go for anything, we are to believe that labour is a curse and not a blessing. Adam was not born to labour.'
'But he fell; and I doubt whether Dr Palmoil will be able to put his descendants back into Eden.'
'Roger, for a religious man, you do say the strangest things! I have quite made up my mind to this;--if ever I can see things so settled here as to enable me to move, I will visit the interior of Africa. It is the garden of the world.'
This scrap of enthusiasm so carried them through their immediate difficulties that the two men were able to take their leave and to get out of the room with fair comfort. As soon as the door was closed behind them Lady Carbury attacked her daughter. 'What brought him here?'
'He brought himself, mamma.'
'Don't answer me in that way, Hetta. Of course he brought himself. That is insolent.'
'Insolent, mamma! How can you say such hard words? I meant that he came of his own accord.'
'How long was he here?'
'Two minutes before you came in. Why do you cross-question me like this? I could not help his coming. I did not desire that he might be shown up.'
'You did not know that he was to come?'
'Mamma, if I am to be suspected, all is over between us.'
'What do you mean by that?'
'If you can think that I would deceive you, you will think so always. If you will not trust me, how am I to live with you as though you did? I knew nothing of his coming.'
'Tell me this, Hetta; are you engaged to marry him?'
'No;--I am not.'