"That is all wrong," he decisively replied. "Very wrong. Even if your idea of the other world were right, you should not abandon your hold on this till your work was done. A general condition of mind like yours would stop all invention, all discovery, and especially all philanthropy. In fact, the only philanthropy would be murder. To end man's suffering here would be a duty. War would be a blessing, and disease a rescue. No, no. You must not talk like that."
"Oh, I'm not really thinking of going. I feel that I must stay a little while longer to see Viola settled in life."
"What do you mean by that? Do you mean married, and happy, or do you mean given over entirely to the trance?"
"I suppose she ought to marry--she is very unhappy as she is."
"Now, that is what I especially wanted to talk with you about. I have decided to ask your daughter to put herself into my hands, and I hope you will give your consent."
"I shall be glad to have you take charge of her, professor, and father, I know, is anxious to have you head the committee."
"Oh, I don't mean that! I mean something much more intimate, much more important." This brought him face to face with himself and the decision over which he had agonized for so long, and for an instant he hesitated, then took the plunge bravely. "I love your daughter, Mrs. Lambert, and I want your permission to tell her so."
She drew back into her chair with a gasp of surprise and a look of alarm.
"Oh, I didn't understand! I thought you meant--I don't know--I--" She was utterly at a loss for words, but he understood her.
"Your hesitation is not flattering to me. I hope you don't absolutely distrust me."
Her embarrassment was pitiful. "Oh no, indeed! But you are a sceptic. You don't believe in us--in her."
"Oh yes, I do!"
"And, besides, she has been promised for two years to Tony--Mr. Clarke."
He grew a little hard at mention of the preacher's name. "But she fears and hates Clarke. She has broken with him. She told my sister that she was done with him forever. You will not ask her to marry a man she distrusts?"
She flew to Clarke's defence. "That was only a mood, a lover's quarrel. He was all upset by Pratt and--and other things. I will not allow her to desert him when he is in trouble. He has been so much to us, and he is a noble character in spite of all."
"All this is very disturbing to me," he answered, more humorously than he felt. "But, nevertheless, I also claim to be a noble character."