Upon hearing of his inheritance from Mrs. Maldon, Louis was for throwing up immediately his situation at Horrocleave’s.  Rachel had dissuaded him from such irresponsible madness.  She had prevented him from running into a hundred expenses during their engagement and in connection with the house.  And he had in the end enthusiastically praised her common sense.  But that very morning at the midday meal he had surprised her by announcing that on account of the reception he should not go to the works at all in the afternoon, though he had omitted to warn Horrocleave.  Ultimately she had managed, by guile, to dispatch him to the works for two hours.  And now in the evening he was alarming her afresh.  Why go to Llandudno?  What point was there in rushing off to Llandudno, and scattering in three days more money than they could save in three weeks?  He frightened her ingrained prudence, and her alarm was only increased by his obvious failure to realize the terrible defect in himself. (For to her it was terrible.) The joyous scheme of an excursion to Llandudno had suddenly crossed his mind, exciting the appetite for pleasure.  Hence the appetite must be immediately indulged!...  Rachel had been brought up otherwise.  And as a direct result of Louis’ irresponsible suggestion she had a vision of the house with county-court bailiffs lodged in the kitchen....  She had only to say—­“Yes, let’s go,” and they would be off on the absurd and wicked expedition.

“I’d really rather not,” she said, smiling, but serious.

“All serene.  But, anyhow, next week’s Easter, and we shall have to go somewhere then, you know.”

She put her hands on his shoulders and looked close at him, knowing that she must use her power and that the heavy dusk would help her.

“Why?” she asked again.  “I’d much sooner stay here at Easter.  Truly I would!...  With you!”

The episode ended with an embrace.  She had won.

“Very well!  Very well!” said Louis.  “Easter in the coal-cellar if you like.  I’m on for anything.”

“But don’t you see, dearest?” she said.

And he imitated her emphasis, full of teasing good humour—­

“Yes, I see, dearest.”

She breathed relief, and asked—­

“Are you going to give me my bicycle lesson?”

III

Louis had borrowed a bicycle for Rachel to ruin while learning to ride.  He said that a friend had lent it to him—­a man in Hanbridge whose mother had given up riding on account of stoutness—­but who exactly this friend was Rachel knew not, Louis’ information being characteristically sketchy and incomplete; and with his air of candour and good humour he had a strange way of warding off questions; so that already Rachel had grown used to a phrase which she would utter only in her mind, “I don’t like to ask him—­”