Egremont tried to speak hopefully, but in secret he felt that his power over men was not that which draws them from the way of evil and turns them to light.  For that is needed more than love of the beautiful.  For a moment he mused in misgiving over his ’Thoughts for the Present.’

They began to talk of those details in the library scheme which Egremont had left for subsequent discussion.

‘As soon as the premises are in my hands,’ he said, ’I shall have the house thoroughly repaired.  I should like you to see then if any alteration can be made which would add to your comfort.  As soon as the place can be made ready, it will be yours to take possession of.  That should be certainly by the end of April.  Shall you be free to leave your present occupation then?’

’I can at any time.  But I am glad to have a date fixed.  I’m going to be married then.’

It was said with a curious diffidence which brought a smile to the hearer’s face.  Egremont was surprised at the intelligence, glad at the same time.

‘That is good news,’ he said.  ’Of course I had thought of you living with your mother.  This will be better still.  Your future wife must, of course, examine the house; no doubt she’ll be a far better judge than you of what needs doing.  When you are back from your honeymoon we shall go to work together on arranging books.  That’ll be a rare time!  We shall throw up our arms, like Dominie Sampson, and cry “Prodigious!"’

He grew mirthful, indulging the boyish humour which, as a reaction from his accustomed lonely silence, came upon him when he had a sympathetic companion.  To Gilbert this was a new phase of Egremont’s character; he, sober in happiness, answered the young man’s merriment with an expressive smile.

Grail had merely mentioned the fact of his intended marriage.  When he was alone, Egremont wondered much within himself what kind of woman such a man might have chosen to share his life.  Had he contemplated marriage for some time, and been prevented from it by stress of circumstances?  It was not easy to picture the suitable partner for Grail.  Clearly she must be another than the thriftless, shiftless creature too common in working-class homes.  Yet it was not likely that he had met with any one who could share his inner life.  Had he, following the example of many a prudent man, chosen a good, quiet, modest woman, whose first and last anxiety would be to keep his home in order and see that he lacked no comfort within her province to bestow?  It was probable.  She would no doubt be past youth; suppose her thirty.  She would have a face which pleased by its homely goodness; she would speak in a gentle voice, waiting upon superior wisdom.

A few days before that appointed for the first lecture of this new course, Egremont received a letter of which the address surprised him.  It bore the Penrith post-mark; the writing must be Annabel’s.  He had very recently written to Mr. Newthorpe, who was not yet well enough to attempt the journey southwards; this reply by another hand might signify ill news.  And that proved to be the case.  Annabel wrote: