opposed?'

'I doubt whether they can be,' said her father. 'The one insuperable
difficulty lies in the fact that we have no power greater than
commercial enterprise. Nowadays nothing will succeed save on the
commercial basis; from church to public-house the principle applies.
There is no way of spreading popular literature save on terms of
supply and demand. Take the Education Act. It was devised and
carried simply for the reason indicated by Egremont's friend
Dalmaine; a more intelligent type of workmen is demanded that our
manufacturers may keep pace with those of other countries. Well,
there is a demand for comic illustrations of the Bible, and the
demand is met; the paper exists because it pays. An organ of culture
for the people who enjoy burlesquing the Bible couldn't possibly be
made to pay.'

'But is there no one who would undertake such work without hope of
recompense in money? We are not all mere tradespeople.'

'I have an idea for a beginning of such work, Miss Newthorpe,' said
Egremont, in a voice rather lower than hitherto. 'I came here
because I wanted to talk it over.'

Annabel met his look for a moment, expressing all the friendly
interest which she felt. Mr. Newthorpe, who had been pacing on the
grass, came to a seat. He placed himself next to Paula. She glanced
at him, and he said kindly:

'You are quite sure you don't feel cold?'