“Very unkind, I think.”

“It would seem so cold to her on her return.”

“Very cold.  Will you not go and meet her?”

Lady Clavering blushed as she answered.  Though Sir Hugh was a tyrant to his wife, and known to be such, and though she knew that this was known, she had never said that it was so to any of the Claverings; but now she was driven to confess it.  “He would not let me go, Harry.  I could not go without telling him, and if I told him he would forbid it.”

“And she is to be all alone in London, without any friend?”

“I shall go to her as soon as he will let me.  I don’t think he will forbid my going to her, perhaps, after a day or two; but I know he would not let me go on purpose to meet her.”

“It does seem hard.”

“But about the apartments, Harry?  I thought that perhaps you would see about them.  After all that has passed, I could not have asked you, only that now, as you are engaged yourself, it is nearly the same as though you were married.  I would ask Archibald, only then there would be a fuss between Archibald and Hugh; and somehow I look on you more as a brother-in-law than I do Archibald.”

“Is Archie in London?”

“His address is at his club, but I dare say he is at North Priory also.  At any rate, I shall say nothing to him.”

“I was thinking he might have met her.”

“Julia never liked him.  And, indeed, I don’t think she will care so much about being met.  She was always independent in that way, and would go over the world alone better than many men.  But couldn’t you run up and manage about the apartments?  A woman coming home as a widow, and in her position, feels a hotel to be so public.”

“I will see about the apartments.”

“I knew you would.  And there will be time for you to send to me, so that I can write to Paris, will there not?  There is more than a week, you know.”

But Henry did not wish to go to London on this business immediately.  He had made up his mind that he would not only take the rooms, but that he would also meet Lady Ongar at the station.  He said nothing of this to Lady Clavering, as, perhaps, she might not approve; but such was his intention.  He was wrong, no doubt.  A man in such cases should do what he is asked to do, and do no more.  But he repeated to himself the excuse that Lady Clavering had made—­namely, that he was already the same as a married man, and that, therefore, no harm could come of his courtesy to his cousin’s wife’s sister.  But he did not wish to make two journeys to London, nor did he desire to be away for a full week out of his holidays.  Lady Clavering could not press him to go at once, and, therefore, it was settled as he proposed.  She would write to Paris immediately, and he would go up to London after three or four days.  “If we only knew of any apartment, we could write,” said Lady Clavering.  “You could not know that they were comfortable,” said Harry; “and you will find that I will do it in plenty of time.”  Then he took his leave; but Lady Clavering had still one other word to say to him.  “You had better not say anything about all this at the rectory, had you?” Harry, without considering much about it, said that he would not mention it.