"Change is a policy with thee, I think. It has paid thee well, so it
would seem."

"Only a fair rate of interest for the capital invested and the risks I've
taken," he answered with an amused look.

"I do not think that interest will increase. Thee has climbed quickly,
but fast climbing is not always safe climbing."

His mood changed. His voice quickened, his face lowered. "You think I
will fail? You wish me to fail?"

"In so far as thee acts uprightly, I wish thee well. But if, out of
office, thee disregards justice and conscience and the rights of others,
can thee be just and faithful in office? Subtlety will not always avail.
The strong man takes the straight course. Subtlety is not intellect."

He flushed. She had gone to the weakest point in his defences. His
vanity was being hurt. She had an advantage now.

"You are wrong," he protested. "You do not understand public life, here
in a silly Quaker village."

"Does thee think that all that happens in 'public life' is of
consequence? That is not sensible. Thee is in the midst of a thousand
immaterial things, though they have importance for the moment. But the
chief things that matter to all, does thee not know that a 'silly Quaker
village' may realise them to the full--more fully because we see them
apart from the thousand little things that do not matter? I remember a