During this absence of hers Mr. Gibson was drifting into matrimony.  He was partly aware of whither he was going; and partly it was like the soft floating movement of a dream.  He was more passive than active in the affair; though, if his reason had not fully approved of the step he was tending to—­if he had not believed that a second marriage was the very best way of cutting the Gordian knot of domestic difficulties, he could have made an effort without any great trouble to himself, and extricated himself without pain from the mesh of circumstances.  It happened in this manner:—­

Lady Cumnor having married her two eldest daughters, found her labours as a chaperone to Lady Harriet, the youngest, considerably lightened by co-operation; and, at length, she had leisure to be an invalid.  She was, however, too energetic to allow herself this indulgence constantly; only she permitted herself to break down occasionally after a long course of dinners, late hours, and London atmosphere:  and then, leaving Lady Harriet with either Lady Cuxhaven or Lady Agnes Manners, she betook herself to the comparative quiet of the Towers, where she found occupation in doing her benevolence, which was sadly neglected in the hurly-burly of London.  This particular summer she had broken down earlier than usual, and longed for the repose of the country.  She believed that her state of health, too, was more serious than previously; but she did not say a word of this to her husband or daughters; reserving her confidence for Mr. Gibson’s cars.  She did not wish to take Lady Harriet away from the gaieties of town which she was thoroughly enjoying, by any complaint of hers, which might, after all, be ill-founded; and yet she did not quite like being without a companion in the three weeks or a month that might intervene before her family would join her at the Towers, especially as the annual festivity to the school visitors was impending; and both the school and the visit of the ladies connected with it, had rather lost the zest of novelty.

‘Thursday, the 19th, Harriet,’ said Lady Cumnor meditatively; ’what do you say to coming down to the Towers on the 18th, and helping me over that long day; you could stay in the country till Monday, and have a few days’ rest and good air; you would return a great deal fresher to the remainder of your gaieties.  Your father would bring you down, I know:  indeed, he is coming naturally.’

‘Oh, mammal’ said Lady Harriet, the youngest daughter of the house—­the prettiest, the most indulged; ’I cannot go; there is the water-party up to Maidenhead on the 20th, I should be so sorry to miss it:  and Mrs. Duncan’s ball, and Grisi’s concert; please, don’t want me.  Besides, I should do no good.  I can’t make provincial small-talk; I’m not up in the local politics of Hollingford.  I should be making mischief, I know I should.’

‘Very well, my dear,’ said Lady Cumnor, sighing, ’I had forgotten the Maidenhead water-party, or I would not have asked you.’