once had
he, by exclamation or innuendo, during the period of his recent grief
for the loss of his first love, complained of his uncle Everard's
refusal in the old days to aid him in suing for Renee. Rosamund had
expected that he would. She thought it unloverlike in him not to stir
the past, and to bow to intolerable facts. This idea of him, coming in
conjunction with his present behaviour, convinced her that there existed
a contradiction in his nature: whence it ensued that she lost her warmth
as an advocate designing to intercede for him with Cecilia; and warmth
being gone, the power of the scandal seemed to her unassailable. How
she could ever have presumed to combat it, was an astonishment to her.
Cecilia might be indulgent, she might have faith in Nevil. Little else
could be hoped for.

The occupations, duties, and ceremonies of her new position contributed
to the lassitude into which Rosamund sank. And she soon had a
communication to make to her lord, the nature of which was more
startling to herself, even tragic. The bondwoman is a free woman
compared with the wife.

Lord Romfrey's friends noticed a glow of hearty health in the splendid
old man, and a prouder animation of eye and stature; and it was agreed
that matrimony suited him well. Luckily for Cecil he did not sulk very
long. A spectator of the earl's first introduction to the House of
Peers, he called on his uncle the following day, and Rosamund accepted
his homage in her husband's presence. He vowed that my lord was the
noblest figure in the whole assembly; that it had been to him the most
moving sight he had ever witnessed; that Nevil should have been there
to see it and experience what he had felt; it would have done old
Nevil incalculable good! and as far as his grief at the idea and some
reticence would let him venture, he sighed to think of the last Earl of
Romfrey having been seen by him taking the seat of his fathers.

Lord Romfrey shouted 'Ha!' like a checked peal of laughter, and glanced
at his wife.

CHAPTER XLV. A LITTLE PLOT AGAINST CECILIA

Some days before Easter week Seymour Austin went to Mount Laurels
for rest, at an express invitation from Colonel Halkett. The working
barrister, who is also a working member of Parliament, is occasionally
reminded that this mortal machine cannot adapt itself in perpetuity to
the long hours of labour by night in the House of Commons as well as by
day in the Courts, which would seem to have been