The potted peas Committee sat on the Thursday, and he ought to have been there.  His absence, however, was unavoidable, as he could not have left his friend’s bed-side so soon after the accident.  On the Wednesday he had written to Lady Laura, and on the Thursday evening he went first to Portman Square and then to Grosvenor Place.

“Of course he will kill himself some day,” said the Earl,—­with a tear, however, in each eye.

“I hope not, my lord.  He is a magnificent horseman; but accidents of course will happen.”

“How many of his bones are there not broken, I wonder?” said the father.  “It is useless to talk, of course.  You think he is not in danger?”

“Certainly not.”

“I should fear that he would be so liable to inflammation.”

“The doctor says that there is none.  He has been taking an enormous deal of exercise,” said Phineas, “and drinking no wine.  All that is in his favour.”

“What does he drink, then?” asked the Earl.

“Nothing.  I rather think, my lord, you are mistaken a little about his habits.  I don’t fancy he ever drinks unless he is provoked to do it.”

“Provoked!  Could anything provoke you to make a brute of yourself?  But I am glad that he is in no danger.  If you hear of him, let me know how he goes on.”

Lady Laura was of course full of concern.  “I wanted to go down to him,” she said, “but Mr. Kennedy thought that there was no occasion.”

“Nor is there any;—­I mean in regard to danger.  He is very solitary there.”

“You must go to him again.  Mr. Kennedy will not let me go unless I can say that there is danger.  He seems to think that because Oswald has had accidents before, it is nothing.  Of course I cannot leave London without his leave.”

“Your brother makes very little of it, you know.”

“Ah;—­he would make little of anything.  But if I were ill he would be in London by the first train.”

“Kennedy would let you go if you asked him.”

“But he advises me not to go.  He says my duty does not require it, unless Oswald be in danger.  Don’t you know, Mr. Finn, how hard it is for a wife not to take advice when it is so given?” This she said, within six months of her marriage, to the man who had been her husband’s rival!

Phineas asked her whether Violet had heard the news, and learned that she was still ignorant of it.  “I got your letter only this morning, and I have not seen her,” said Lady Laura.  “Indeed, I am so angry with her that I hardly wish to see her.”  Thursday was Lady Baldock’s night, and Phineas went from Grosvenor Place to Berkeley Square.  There he saw Violet, and found that she had heard of the accident.

“I am so glad to see you, Mr. Finn,” she said.  “Do tell me;—­is it much?”

“Much in inconvenience, certainly; but not much in danger.”

“I think Laura was so unkind not to send me word!  I only heard it just now.  Did you see it?”