ghed. But the
Duke was inexorable. Lady Glencora at such a time would have other
things to do, and I must be there, or Gatherum Castle should not be
opened. I suggested whether I could not remain in the background and
look after the Duke as a kind of upper nurse,--but Lady Glencora said
it would not do."

"Why should you subject yourself to such indignity?"

"Simply from love of the man. But you see I was not subjected. For
two days I wore my jewels beneath royal eyes,--eyes that will sooner
or later belong to absolute majesty. It was an awful bore, and I
ought to have been at Vienna. You ask me why I did it. The fact is
that things sometimes become too strong for one, even when there is
no real power of constraint. For years past I have been used to have
my own way, but when there came a question of the entertainment of
royalty I found myself reduced to blind obedience. I had to go to
Gatherum Castle, to the absolute neglect of my business; and I went."

"Do you still keep it up?"

"Oh, dear, yes. He is at Matching now, and I doubt whether he will
ever leave it again. I shall go there from here as a matter of
course, and relieve guard with Lady Glencora."

"I don't see what you get for it all."

"Get;--what should I get? You don't believe in friendship, then?"

"Certainly I do;--but this friendship is so unequal. I can hardly
understand that it should have grown from personal liking on your
side."

"I think it has," said Madame Goesler, slowly. "You see, Mr. Finn,
that you as a young man can hardly understand how natural it is that
a young woman,--if I may call myself young,--should minister to an
old man."

"But there should be some bond to the old man."

"There is a bond."

"You must not be angry with me," said Phineas.

"I am not in the least angry."

"I should not venture to express any opinion, of course,--only that
you ask me."

"I do ask you, and you are quite welcome to express your opinion. And
were it not expressed, I should know what you thought just the same.
I have wondered at it myself sometimes,--that I should have become as
it were engulfed in this new life, almost without will of my own. And
when he dies, how shall I return to the other life? Of course I have
the house in Park Lane still, but my very maid talks of Matching as
my home."

"How will it be when he has gone?"

"Ah,--how indeed? Lady Glencora and I will have to curtsey to each
other, and there will be an end of it. She