No!--nothing premature! It seemed to him, as it had seemed to Bobbie
Forbes, that she could only be won by the slow and gradual conquest of a
rich personality. He set himself to the task.
* * * * *
Down-stairs Mr. Ferrier and Sir James Chide were sitting together in a
remote corner of the hall. Mr. Ferrier, in great good-humor with the
state of things, was discussing Oliver's chances, confidentially, with
his old friend. Sir James sat smoking in silence. He listened to
Ferrier's praises of Miss Mallory, to his generous appreciation of
Marsham's future, to his speculations as to what Lady Lucy would do for
her son, upon his marriage, or as to the part which a creature so
brilliant and so winning as Diana might be expected to play in London
and in political life.
Sir James said little or nothing. He knew Lady Lucy well, and had known
her long. Presently he rose abruptly and went up-stairs to bed.
"Ought I to speak?" he asked himself, in an agony of doubt. "Perhaps a
word to Ferrier?--"
No!--impossible!--impossible! Yet, as he mounted the stairs, over the
house which had just seen the triumph of Diana, over that radiant figure
itself, the second sight of the great lawyer perceived the brooding of a
cloud of fate; nor could he do anything to avert or soften its downfall.
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