to what is fashionably supposed to be pleasure.  On the other hand, as I am bidding for a consent and not for a refusal, I hope you will not take my disadvantages for more, or my advantages for less, than they are honestly worth.  At Carbury Park you often said that you would never marry; and I have said the same myself.  So, as we neither of us overrate the possibilities of happiness in marriage, perhaps we might, if you would be a little forbearing with me, succeed in proving that we have greatly underrated them.  As for the prudence of the step, I have seen and practised too much prudence to believe that it is worth much as a rule of conduct in a world of accidents.  If there were a science of life as there is one of mechanics, we could plan our lives scientifically and run no risks; but as it is, we must—­together or apart—­take our chance:  cautiousness and recklessness divide the great stock of regrets pretty equally.

“Perhaps you will wonder at my selfishness in wanting you, for my own good, to forfeit your present happy independence among your friends, and involve your fortunes with those of a man whom you have only seen on occasions when ceremony compelled him to observe his best behavior.  I can only excuse myself by reminding you that no matter whom you marry, you must do so at the same disadvantages, except as to the approval of your friends, of which the value is for you to consider.  That being so, why should I not profit by your hazard as well as another?  Besides, there are many other feelings impelling me.  I should like to describe them to you, and would if I understood them well enough to do it accurately.

“However, nothing is further from my intention than to indite a love letter; so I will return to graver questions.  One, in particular, must be clearly understood between us.  You are too earnest to consider an allusion to religious matters out of place here.  I do not know exactly what you believe; but I have gathered from stray remarks of yours that you belong to what is called the Broad Church.  If so, we must to some extent agree to differ.  I should never interfere in any way with your liberty as far as your actions concerned yourself only.  But, frankly, I should not permit my wife to teach my children to know Christianity in any other way than that in which an educated Englishman knows Buddhism.  I will not go through any ceremony whatever in a church, or enter one except to play the organ.  I am prejudiced against religions of all sorts.  The Church has made itself the natural enemy of the theatre; and I was brought up in the theatre until I became a poor workman earning wages, when I found the Church always taking part against me and my comrades with the rich who did no work.  If the Church had never set itself against me, perhaps I should never have set myself against the Church; but what is done is done:  you will find me irreligious, but not, I hope, unreasonable.