Page:Melbourne Riots (Andrade, 1892).djvu/57

Rh waited five years before he got a single convert! And even that convert was one he wasn't at all proud of. And yet, forty years after, hundreds of the leading minds of America were enthusiastic converts to his ideas, thousands of dollars were gladly clubbed together to give those ideas a practical test, and experiment after experiment was conducted to carry out Fourier's ideas as best they could; and now Fourier's writings have influenced all sociological thought, and their author has become one of the great classic writers of Socialism. Surely if Fourier had reason for hope when he had only one convert in five years, I have every good reason to be sanguine when I have ten times that many converts in one month!”

“You certainly deserve to succeed, Harry.”

“And I mean to, if it is only in my dying breath.”

“That’s the same old Harry.”

Both speakers looked up to see who had interjected the last remark.

“Hypatia!” exclaimed Harry after a moment's hesitation.

“I wonder you recognise me, Harry. Don’t you think I have changed—for the better of course?”

“You have changed, certainly; and at first I could scarcely believe it was you. You look so very ill. Whatever is the matter with you?”

“Oh nothing serious. Pardon me, Mr. Wilberforce, for my discourtesy in not noticing you before. I am so much interested in my fellow sufferer here that I almost forgot anyone else was present. I know with your large heartedness you will make full allowances for circumstances; but really I feel I am doing a gross injustice in even temporarily forgetting the presence of one who, in spite of my past coldness, has magnanimously acted as my greatest benefactor in the hour of need.”

“It’s all right, Hypatia, no self-respecting person omits to assist a suffering friend when he can do so without injury to himself. It is the least I can do. But who is that young woman I see waiting outside? Isn't she waiting for you?”

“Yes, that is my fellow traveller, Rose Wilson, who was working at the same place as I was in Sydney. She is waiting till I go out, when I have promised to go with her to a friend's place where she intends stopping.”

“Why not invite her in? There is no need for her to wait out there.”

Hypatia instantly did as requested; and after the usual introductions the whole party adjourned into the adjoining drawing room.

“Well,” said Fred, when they were seated, “I think Miss Stephens ought to tell us where she has been all this time, as there has been more than one anxious to hear after her welfare, and now that she's here we want our curiosity satisfied.”

“I have not much to tell you, Mr. Wilberforce, unless I wish to weary you with the dry details of a housekeeper's life. If you have no objection, I would like to speak privately with Mr. Holdfast for a few minutes in the next room. Perhaps Miss Wilson will give you the information you seek and Harry can learn it some other time.”

“Certainly,” said Fred, “don't let me, or empty ceremony, stand in