There was no reply to the question.  But it became a nestling centre for the skiey flock of dreams, and for really temperate soundings of her capacities, tending to the depreciatory.  She could do little.  She entertained the wish to work, not only ‘for the sake of Somebody,’ as her favourite poet sang, but for the sake of working and serving—­proving that she was helpfuller than a Countess of Ormont, ranged with all the other countesses in china and Dresden on a drawing-room mantelpiece for show.  She could organize, manage a household, manage people too, she thought:  manage a husband?  The word offends.  Perhaps invigorate him, here and there perhaps inspire him, if he would let her breathe.  Husbands exist who refuse the right of breathing to their puppet wives.  Above all, as it struck her, she could assist, and be more than an echo of one nobler, in breathing manliness, high spirit, into boys.  With that idea she grazed the shallows of reality, and her dreams whirred from the nest and left it hungrily empty.

Selina Collett was writing under the verandah letters to her people in Suffolk, performing the task with marvellous ease.  Aminta noted it as a mark of superior ability, and she had the envy of the complex nature observing the simple.  It accused her of some guiltiness, uncommitted and indefensible.  She had pushed her anxiety about ’the accident at Chiallo’s’ to an extreme that made her the creature of her sensibilities.  In the midst of this quiet country life and landscape; these motionless garden flowers headed by the smooth white river, and her gentle little friend so homely here, the contemplation of herself was like a shriek in music.  Worse than discordant, she pronounced herself inferior, unfit mentally as well as bodily for the dreams of companionship with any noble soul who might have the dream of turning her into something better.  There are couples in the world, not coupled by priestly circumstance, who are close to the true; union, by reason of generosity on the one part, grateful devotion, as for the gift of life, on the other.  For instance, Mrs. Lawrence Finchley and Lord Adderwood, which was an instance without resemblance; but Aminta’s heart beat thick for what it wanted, and they were the instance of two that did not have to snap false bonds of a marriage-tie in order to walk together composedly outside it—­in honour?  Oh yes, yes!  She insisted on believing it was in honour.

She saw the couple issue from the boathouse.  She had stepped into the garden full of a presentiment; so she fancied, the moment they were seen.  She had, in fact, heard a noise in the boathouse while thinking of them, and the effect on her was to spring an idea of mysterious interventions at the sight.

Mrs. Lawrence rushed to her, and was embraced.  ’You ’re not astonished to see me?  Adder drove me down, and stopped his coach at the inn, and rowed me the half-mile up.  We will lunch, if you propose; but presently.  My dear, I have to tell you things.  You have heard?’