ition Mr Grey assented. "Sometimes, you
know," continued Mr Palliser, "the springs of the carriages are so
very rough." Then, in a very few words, Mr Grey told him what had
been his own morning's work. He hated secrets and secrecy, and as the
Pallisers knew well what had brought him upon their track, it was,
he thought, well that they should know that he had been successful.
Mr Palliser congratulated him very cordially, and then, running
up-stairs for his gloves or his stick, or, more probably, that he
might give his wife one other caution as to her care of herself, he
told her also that Alice had yielded at last. "Of course she has,"
said Lady Glencora.

"I really didn't think she would," said he.

"That's because you don't understand things of that sort," said
his wife. Then the caution was repeated, the mother of the future
duke was kissed, and Mr Palliser went off on his mission about the
carriage, its cushions, and its springs. In the course of their walk
Mr Palliser suggested that, as things were settled so pleasantly,
Mr Grey might as well return with them to England, and to this
suggestion Mr Grey assented.

Alice remained alone for nearly an hour, looking out upon the rough
sides and gloomy top of Mount Pilate. No one disturbed her in the
churchyard,--no steps were heard along the tombstones,--no voice
sounded through the cloisters. She was left in perfect solitude to
think of the past, and form her plans of the future. Was she happy,
now that the manner of her life to come was thus settled for her;
that all further question as to the disposal of herself was taken
out of her hands, and that her marriage with a man she loved was so
firmly arranged that no further folly of her own could disarrange
it? She was happy, though she was slow to confess her happiness to
herself. She was happy, and she was resolute in this,--that she would
now do all she could to make him happy also. And there must now,
she acknowledged, be an end to her pride,--to that pride which had
hitherto taught her to think that she could more wisely follow her
own guidance than that of any other who might claim to guide her. She
knew now that she must follow his guidance. She had found her master,
as we sometimes say, and laughed to herself with a little inward
laughter as she confessed that it was so. She was from henceforth
altogether in his hands. If he chose to tell her that they were to be
married at Michaelmas, or at Christmas, or on La