There was a terrible rebuke in this; but still, as he had called it down upon himself, he would not resent it, even in his heart.  ‘Thank you,’ he said, rising from his chair.  ’Perhaps you will see her again this afternoon.’  Of course she assented, and as the interview had taken place in his rooms she took her leave.

This which Mrs Finn had said to him was all to the same effect as that which had come from Lady Cantrip; only it was said with a higher spirit.  Both the women saw the matter in the same light.  There must be a fight between him and his girl; but she, if she could hold out for a certain time, would be the conqueror.  He might take her away and try what absence would do, or he might have recourse to that specific which had answered so well in reference to his own wife; but if she continued to sorrow during absence, and if she would have nothing to do with the other lever,—­then he must at last give way!  He had declared that he was willing to sacrifice himself,—­meaning thereby that if a lengthened visit to the cities of China, or a prolonged sojourn in the Western States of America would wean her from her love, he would go to China or to the Western States.  At present his self-banishment had been carried no farther than Vienna.  During their travels hitherto Tregear’s name had not once been mentioned.  The Duke had come away from home resolved not to mention it,—­and she was minded to keep it in reserve till some seeming catastrophe should justify a declaration of her purpose.  But from first to last she had been sad, and latterly she had been ill.  When asked as to her complaint she would simply say that she was not happy.  To go on with this through the Chinese cities could hardly be good for either of them.  She could not wake herself to any enthusiasm in regard to scenery, costume, pictures, or even discomforts.  Wherever she was taken it was barren to her.

As their plans stood at present they were to return to England so as to enable her to be at Custins by the middle of October.  Had he taught himself to hope that any good could be done by prolonged travelling he would readily have thrown over Custins and Lord Popplecourt.  He could not bring himself to trust much to the Popplecourt scheme.  But the same contrivance had answered on that former occasion.  When he spoke to her about their plans, she expressed herself quite ready to go back to England.  When he suggested those Chinese cities, her face became very long and she was immediately attacked by paroxysms of headaches.

’I think I should take her to some place on the seashores of England,’ said Mrs Finn.

‘Custins is close to the sea,’ he replied.  ’It is Lord Cantrip’s place in Dorsetshire.  It was partly settled that she was to go there.’

‘I suppose she likes Lady Cantrip.’

‘Why should she not?’

’She has not said a word to me to the contrary.  I only fear that she would feel that she was being sent there,—­as to a convent.’