and cold during the whole time. M. E., now that no
further great efforts are needed, chatters on with most disquieting
inconsequence. I can see she is very much upset at Mr. Derringham's
attitude. The impression that the Conservative Goverment cannot last
has had also a great effect upon her, and she has set me to find out
exactly the position and amount of prestige the wife of a rising
member of the Opposition would have. This morning she sent for me,
when she was dressing, to know if it were true, as Mr. Derringham had
told her, that, if the Radicals got in, they might last seven
years--because, if so, she would then be almost thirty-eight, and the
best days of her youth would be over. I do not dare to think what
these remarks may mean, but in connection with the fact that she
receives daily letters from Mr. Hanbury-Green--that unpleasant
Socialistic person who is coming so much to the front--I almost fear,
and yet hope, that there is some chance for Mr. Derringham's escape.
He is bearing his trouble as only an English gentleman could do, and
at lunch paid her every attention.

And old Mrs. Clinker smiled when she got this letter.

But by the end of the afternoon John Derringham's face wore no smiles; a
blank despair had settled upon him.

They drove along the Arno and into the Gardens.

It was warm and beautiful, but, so forceful is a hostile atmosphere
created between two people, they both found it impossible to make
conversation.

Mrs. Cricklander was burning with rage and a sense of impotency. She
felt her words and all her arts of pleasing were being nullified, and
that she was up against an odious situation in which her strongest
weapons were powerless. It made her nervous and very cross. She
particularly resented not being able to ascertain the cause of the
change in him, and felt personally aggrieved at his still being a
wretched wreck hobbling with a stick. He ought to have got quite well by
now--it was perfectly ridiculous. What if, after all, he would not be
worth while? But the indomitable part of her character made her
tenacious. She felt it was a different matter, throwing away what she
had won, to having to relinquish something that she knew she had never
really gained. She would make one more determined effort, and then, if
he would not give her love, he should be made to feel his bondage, she
would extort from him to the last ounce,