not object to his wife's loneliness at Cadiz
when their plan was new.

London had taught her that a young woman in the giddy heyday of her
beauty has to be guarded; her belonging to us is the proud burden
involving sacrifices. But at St. Jean de Luz, if Riette would consent to
reside there, Lord Fleetwood's absence and the neighbourhood of the
war were reckoned on to preserve his yokefellow from any fit of the
abominated softness which she had felt in one premonitory tremor during
their late interview, and deemed it vile compared with the life of
action and service beside, almost beside, her brother, sharing his
dangers at least. She would have had Chillon speak peremptorily to
his wife regarding the residence on the Spanish borders, adding, in a
despair: 'And me with her to protect her!'

'Unfair to Riette, if she can't decide voluntarily,' he said.

All he refrained from was, the persuading her to stay in England and
live reconciled with the gaoler of the dungeon, as her feelings pictured
it.

Chillon and Carinthia journeyed to London for purchases and a visit to
lawyer, banker, and tradesmen, on their way to meet his chief and Owain
Wythan at Southampton. They lunched with Livia. The morrow was the
great Calesford day; Henrietta carolled of it. Lady Arpington had been
afllictingly demure on the theme of her presence at Calesford within
her term of mourning. 'But I don't mourn, and I'm not related to the
defunct, and I can't be denied the pleasure invented for my personal
gratification,' Henrietta's happy flippancy pouted at the prudish
objections. Moreover, the adored Columelli was to be her slave of song.
The termination of the London season had been postponed a whole week for
Calesford: the utmost possible strain; and her presence was understood
to represent the Countess of Fleetwood, temporarily in decorous
retirement. Chillon was assured by her that the earl had expressed
himself satisfied with his wife's reasonableness. 'The rest will
follow.' Pleading on the earl's behalf was a vain effort, but she had
her grounds for painting Lord Fleetwood's present mood to his countess
in warm colours. 'Nothing short of devotion, Chillon!' London's extreme
anxiety to see them united, and the cause of it, the immense good
Janey could do to her country, should certainly be considered by her,
Henrietta said. She spoke feverishly. A mention of St. Jean de Luz for a
residence inflicted, it appeared, a more violent toothache t