Indeed it would have been hard to define what was wanting in his manner.  He lamented his unavoidable delay, and entertained her with all the political and parliamentary gossip he had brought home, and which she always much enjoyed as a tribute to her wisdom, so much that it had been an entire, though insensible cure for the Rights of Woman.  Moreover, he was going with her to this ‘drum,’ though he would greatly have preferred the debate, and was to be summoned in case of a division.  She knew enough of the world to be aware that such an attentive and courteous husband was not the rule.  But what was courtesy to one who longed for unity?

“Is Frank to be there this evening?” he asked.

“Yes, I believe so.”

“I thought he was to have gone with us.”

“He told me not to depend on him.  He had made an engagement to ride into the country with Sir Harry Vivian.”  And she added, though the proud spirit so hated what seemed to her like making an advance that it sounded like a complaint, “So you can’t avoid going with me?”

“I should any way have gone with you, but I may have to leave you to Frank to see you away,” he said.  “And I had rather have Frank here than with that set.”

“Breaking up one of our few tete-a-tete evenings, and they are becoming few enough!”

This murmur gratified him, and he said, “We shall be more alone together now.  The Rectory is almost ready, and Julius means to move in another week, and I suppose Miles will carry Anne off before the year is over.”

“Yes, we are the only ones with no home.”

“Rather, we hold fast to the old home.”

“Not my old home.”

“Does not mine become yours?”

“Not while—.”  She paused and started afresh.  “Raymond, could we not live at Swanslea, if it is bought for us?”

“Swanslea!  Five miles off!  Impossible.”

Cecil was silent.

“My dear Cecil,” he said, after a few moments’ consideration, “I can understand that you felt unfortunately crowded last year, but all that is over, and you must see that we are necessary to my mother, and that all my duties require me to live at home.”

“You could attend to the property from Swanslea.”

“The property indeed!  I meant my mother!”

“She has Anne.”

“Anne will soon be in Africa—­even if she were more of a companion.  I am sorry it is a trial to you; for my proper place is clearly with my mother, the more in her helpless state, and with my brothers gone out into the world.  Now that the numbers are smaller, you will find it much easier to take the part that I most earnestly wish should be yours.”

“I cannot get on with her.”

“Do not say so!  Do not think so!  To have Rosamond there with her Irish ease, and her reserve, kept you in the background before; I say it, but I could not help it; and now there will be no hindrance to your drawing together.  There is nothing I so desire.”