Yet he saw very little hope of changing Ironsyde’s decision.  Raymond had evidently considered the matter, and though his argument was abominable in Ernest’s view, and nothing more than a cowardly evasion of his promises, he suspected that the writer found it satisfy his conscience, since its further education in the consciousness of power.  He did not suppose that any whose opinion he respected would alter Raymond.  It might even be that he was honest in his theories, and believed himself when he said that marriage would end by destroying his love for Sabina.  But Mr. Churchouse did not pursue that line of argument.  Had not Mary Dinnett just reminded him that this was a Christian country?

It was, of course, an immoral and selfish letter.  Ernest knew exactly how it would strike Miss Ironsyde; but he also knew that many people without principle would view it as reasonable.

He had to determine what he was going to do, and soon came back to the attitude he had always taken.  An unborn, immortal soul must be considered, and it was idle for Raymond to talk about making the coming child his heir.  Such undertakings were vain.  The young man was volatile and his life lay before him.  That he could make this offer argued an indifference to Sabina’s honour which no promises of temporal comfort condoned.  For that matter he must surely have known while he wrote that it would be rejected.

The outlook appeared exceedingly hopeless.  Mr. Churchouse rose from his desk and looked out of the window.  It was a grey and silent morning.  Only a big magnolia leaf tapped at the casement and dripped rain from its point.  And overhead, in her chamber, Sabina was lying stricken and speechless.  With infinite commiseration Mr. Churchouse considered what this must mean to her.  It was as though Mrs. Dinnett’s hysterical words had come true.  Indeed, the tender-hearted man felt that death was in his house—­death of fair hopes, death of a young and trusting spirit.

“The rising generation puts a strain on Christianity that I’m sure it was never called to bear in my youth,” reflected Mr. Churchouse.

CHAPTER XXIV

MRS. NORTHOVER DECIDES

When Richard Gurd began to consider the case of Nelly Northover, his mind was very curiously affected.  To develop the stages by which he arrived at his startling conclusions might be attractive, but the destination is more important than the journey.  After twenty-four hours devoted to this subject alone, Richard had not only decided that Nelly Northover must not marry Job Legg; he had pushed the problem of his friend far beyond that point and found it already complicated by a greater than Job.