He had been allowed to see Lady Mary in London, but hardly to do more than see her.  With her he had been alone for about five minutes, and then the cruel circumstances,—­circumstances, however, which were not permanently cruel,—­had separated them.  All their great difficulties had been settled, and no doubt they were happy.  Tregear, though he had been as it were received into grace by that glass of wine, still had not entered into the intimacies of the house.  This he felt himself.  He had been told that he had better restrain himself from writing to Mary, and he had restrained himself.  He had therefore no immediate opportunity of creeping into that perfect intimacy with the house and household which is generally accorded to a promised son-in-law.

On this occasion he travelled down alone, and as he approached the house he, who was not by nature timid, felt himself to be somewhat cowed.  That the Duke should not be cold to him was almost impossible.  Of course he was there in opposition to the Duke’s wishes.  Even Silverbridge had never quite liked the match.  Of course he was to have all that he desired.  Of course he was the most fortunate of men.  Of course no man had ever stronger reason to be contented with the girl he loved.  But still his heart was a little low as he was driven up to the door.

The first person he saw was the Duke himself, who, as the fly from the station arrived, was returning from his walk.  ’You are welcome to Matching,’ he said, taking off his hat with something of ceremony.  This was said before the servants, but Tregear was then led into the study and the door was closed.  ’I never do anything by halves, Mr Tregear,’ he said.  ’Since it is to so you shall be the same to me as though you had come under other auspices.  Of yourself personally I hear all that is good.  Consider yourself at home here, and in all things use me as your friend.’  Tregear endeavoured to make some reply, but could not find words that were fitting.  ‘I think that young people are out,’ continued the Duke.  ’Mr Warburton will help you find them if you like to go upon the search.’  The words had been very gracious, but still there was something in the manner of the man which made Tregear find it almost impossible to regard him as he might have regarded another father-in-law.  He had often heard the Duke spoken of as a man who could become awful if he pleased, almost without an effort.  He had been told of the man’s mingled simplicity, courtesy, self-assertion against which no impudence or raillery could prevail.  And now he seemed to understand it.

He was not driven to go under the private secretary’s escort in quest of the young people.  Mary had understood her business much better than that.  ’If you please, sir, Lady Mary is in the little drawing-room,’ said a well-arrayed young girl to him as soon as the Duke’s door was closed.  This was Lady Mary’s own maid who had been on the look-out for the fly.  Lady Mary had known all details, as to the arrival of the trains and the length of the journey from the station, and had not been walking with the other young people when the Duke had intercepted her lover.  Even the delay she had thought was hard.  The discreet maid opened the door of the little drawing-room,—­and discreetly closed it instantly.  ‘At last!’ she said, throwing herself into his arms.