opular vote. The point about Henry Fox's
elopement with Caroline Lennox was sound."

"It would not have been sound," said Pensee, "if Caroline Lennox had
been a third-rate woman. A man can be desperate so long as his choice,
on the whole, justifies, either by her beauty, or her talents, or
something uncommon, an extreme measure. Now, Robert may not have made a
wise choice, but it is certainly a distinguished one. It can be
understood and it commands respect."

"Oh, yes, his is a thorough-going emotion, and one couldn't find a fault
with its object. A strong man is always a man who feels strongly _and_
who can carry his feeling into action. Robert, with all his mysticism,
is never subject to the deep depressions of spirit which usually afflict
men of his gifts. He does not know what it is to be languid; or to have
invincible indecisions. He will die game--even if he does know German
metaphysic backwards!"

She was astonished.

"How well you understand him!"

He leant forward a little and adopted a more confidential tone--

"Sara spoke of him at lunch. Her judgment of men and affairs--for so
young a woman--is nothing short of amazing. I attribute it to the
Asiatic streak on her mother's side. It is a kind of second-sight. What
a wife for a Prime Minister! And Marshire, a fellow of middling ability
and no experience, has had the sense to perceive her qualities!... My
feelings can't be easily defined, nor, indeed, is it necessary they
should.... I have gone so far that I cannot see anything for it but to
go on."

"You mean--in your own marriage?"

He sighed profoundly, remained for several minutes silent, and finally
roused himself with a painful effort.

"There are some griefs which can defy any consolation save that of time.
Time ultimately cures everything. It is a matter of history that I was
once very much attached to Sara."

"I know," murmured Pensee. "I know."

He covered his eyes with one hand and looked through his fingers at her
face, asking himself by what transition he could best arrive at a frank
exposition of his embarrassed sentiments. It seemed to him that she was
intelligent as well as trustworthy, and he felt impelled to call in her
assistance, being sure that, in any cause where love could be pleaded,
she would show a judicious leniency.

"If you have not observed that I am still--too interested, you have not
observed with your usual sagacity," said he.

"I think--if I may say so--that ti