Mr. Woodbourne
and Sir Edward expected to be engaged all day in the final settlement
of accounts with the architect of the church.
As soon as the two parties of pleasure had been arranged, Elizabeth
left the breakfast-table to tell the children of the treat in store
for them, and to write a little note to Horace, to accompany Dora's
letter, which had been finished that morning before breakfast.
Just after she had quitted the room, Sir Edward asked what the smart-
looking building, at the corner of Aurelia Place, was.
'You mean the Mechanics' Institute,' said Mr. Woodbourne.
'Never was new town without one,' said Rupert.
'Is this one well conducted?' inquired Lady Merton.
'Not much worse than such things usually are,' replied Mr.
Woodbourne; 'two or three Socialist lectures were given there, but
they were stopped before they had time to do much harm.'
'Were you obliged to interfere?' said Sir Edward.
'Yes,' said Mr. Woodbourne; 'I went to some of the managing
committee--Mr. Green and old Mr. Turner--and after some rather strong
representations on my part, they found means to put a stop to them.
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