Lord Chiltern remained ten days at Saulsby, and at last did not get away without a few unpleasant words with his father,—­or without a few words that were almost unpleasant with his mistress.  On his first arrival he had told his sister that he should go on a certain day, and some intimation to this effect had probably been conveyed to the Earl.  But when his son told him one evening that the post-chaise had been ordered for seven o’clock the next morning, he felt that his son was ungracious and abrupt.  There were many things still to be said, and indeed there had been no speech of any account made at all as yet.

“That is very sudden,” said the Earl.

“I thought Laura had told you.”

“She has not told me a word lately.  She may have said something before you came here.  What is there to hurry you?”

“I thought ten days would be as long as you would care to have me here, and as I said that I would be back by the first, I would rather not change my plans.”

“You are going to hunt?”

“Yes;—­I shall hunt till the end of March.”

“You might have hunted here, Oswald.”  But the son made no sign of changing his plans; and the father, seeing that he would not change them, became solemn and severe.  There were a few words which he must say to his son,—­something of a speech that he must make;—­so he led the way into the room with the dark books and the dark furniture, and pointed to a great deep arm-chair for his son’s accommodation.  But as he did not sit down himself, neither did Lord Chiltern.  Lord Chiltern understood very well how great is the advantage of a standing orator over a sitting recipient of his oratory, and that advantage he would not give to his father.  “I had hoped to have an opportunity of saying a few words to you about the future,” said the Earl.

“I think we shall be married in July,” said Lord Chiltern.

“So I have heard;—­but after that.  Now I do not want to interfere, Oswald, and of course the less so, because Violet’s money will to a great degree restore the inroads which have been made upon the property.”

“It will more than restore them altogether.”

“Not if her estate be settled on a second son, Oswald, and I hear from Lady Baldock that that is the wish of her relations.”

“She shall have her own way,—­as she ought.  What that way is I do not know.  I have not even asked about it.  She asked me, and I told her to speak to you.”

“Of course I should wish it to go with the family property.  Of course that would be best.”

“She shall have her own way,—­as far as I am concerned.”

“But it is not about that, Oswald, that I would speak.  What are your plans of life when you are married?”

“Plans of life?”

“Yes;—­plans of life.  I suppose you have some plans.  I suppose you mean to apply yourself to some useful occupation?”

“I don’t know really, sir, that I am of much use for any purpose.”  Lord Chiltern laughed as he said this, but did not laugh pleasantly.