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A minute passed in complete silence, then Lady Ogram gave a start, recovered herself, and fixed her look upon the visitor. "How old are you?" she asked, in a voice which had become less distinct, as if through fatigue. "Seven and twenty, Lady Ogram." "And your father is a clergyman?" "My father is vicar of Alverholme, in Northamptonshire."
Time enough to make arrangements. I'll settle it with Constance. So to-morrow morning you leave us, on a visit to your parents. I suppose you'll spend a couple of days there?" In his confused mind, Dyce could only fix the thought that Constance had evidently told Lady Ogram of his intention to go to Alverholme. It was plain that those two held very intimate colloquies.
Its reconciliation of the aristocratic principle with a true socialism was exactly what I had been striving for; it put me at harmony with myself, for you know that I am at the same time Aristocrat and Socialist. Well now, I spoke of the book to my father, and begged him to read it. It was when we met at Alverholme, in the spring, you remember? How long ago does that seem to you?
"But I mean about your engagement." Dyce had of course omitted all mention of Constance in his letters to Alverholme. "They give their approval," he replied, "because they have confidence in my judgment.
He tapped at an egg, and still scrutinised the writing on the envelope; it was Constance who had crossed out the Rivenoak address, and had written beside it "The Vicarage, Alverholme." "Have you slept well?" asked his mother, who treated him with much more consideration than at his last visit.
Are you in any hurry to get away?" "Not at all. Only, if I'm soon going back to London, I should take Alverholme on the journey. Would you probe our friend for me?" "I'll try." At this time, they were both reading a book of Nietzsche. That philosopher had only just fallen into their hands, though of course they had heard much of him.
Looking round for possibilities, Constance hit upon the idea of studying pharmaceutics and becoming a dispenser; wherein, with long, steady effort, she at length succeeded. This project had already been shaped whilst the Brides were at Alverholme; Mrs. Lashmar had since heard of Constance as employed in the dispensary of a midland hospital. "Hollingford?" remarked the vicar, as they walked on.
Well, well, we shall often see each other again, and who knows whether I mayn't be of use to him some day." "What a fine sensibility he has, together with his great intelligence!" was Iris Woolstan's comment in her own heart. And she reproached herself for not having stood out against Wrybolt. As he walked away from the house, Dyce wondered why he had told that lie about the friend at Alverholme.
Observing Constance as she went before him, Dyce was struck with a new dignity in her bearing. Notwithstanding her subordinate position at Rivenoak, and the unceremonious way in which Lady Ogram exercised authority over her, Constance showed to more advantage here than on her recent visit to Alverholme; she was more naturally self-possessed, and seemed a freer, happier person.
A friend of mine down at Alverholme knows her very well, and thought I might like to meet her. I half think I should. She lives at Hollingford; a rich old woman, going in a good deal for social questions. A widow, no children. Who knows?" he added, raising his, eyebrows and looking straight at Iris. "She might interest herself in in my view of things."
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