Colonel Osborne was on this committee, and, moreover, was on good terms at the Colonial Office.  There were men in office who would be glad to do Colonel Osborne a service, and then if this were a job, it would be so very little of a job!  Perhaps Sir Marmaduke might not be the very best man for the purpose.  Perhaps the government of the Mandarins did not afford the best specimen of that colonial lore which it was the business of the committee to master.  But then two governors were to come, and it might be as well to have one of the best sort, and one of the second best.  No one supposed that excellent old Sir Marmaduke was a paragon of a governor, but then he had an infinity of experience!  For over twenty years he had been from island to island, and had at least steered clear of great scrapes.

‘We’ll try it, at any rate,’ said the Colonel.

‘Do, Colonel Osborne.  Mamma would come with him, of course?’

’We should leave him to manage all that.  It’s not very likely that he would leave Lady Rowley behind.’

’He never has.  I know he thinks more of mamma than he ever does of himself.  Fancy having them here in the autumn!  I suppose if he came for the end of the session, they wouldn’t send him back quite at once?’

’I rather fancy that our foreign and colonial servants know how to stretch a point when they find themselves in England.’

’Of course they do, Colonel Osborne; and why shouldn’t they?  Think of all that they have to endure out in those horrible places.  How would you like to live in the Mandarins?’

‘I should prefer London, certainly.’

’Of course you would; and you mustn’t begrudge papa a month or two when he comes.  I never cared about your being in parliament before, but I shall think so much of you now if you can manage to get papa home.’

There could be nothing more innocent than this—­nothing more innocent at any rate as regarded any offence against Mr Trevelyan.  But just then there came a word which a little startled Mrs Trevelyan, and made her feel afraid that she was doing wrong.

‘I must make one stipulation with you, Emily,’ said the Colonel.

‘What is that?’

‘You must not tell your husband.’

‘Oh, dear! and why not?’

’I am sure you are sharp enough to see why you should not.  A word of this repeated at any club would put an end at once to your project, and would be very damaging to me.  And, beyond that, I wouldn’t wish him to know that I had meddled with it at all.  I am very chary of having my name connected with anything of the kind; and, upon my word, I wouldn’t do it for any living human being but yourself.  You’ll promise me, Emily?’