r nodded. "He'll have to manage the estate some day, not so far
off, either."

Christopher patted the sofa rug absently.

"When he's at Cambridge he'll have to spend the Long Vacation learning
from his ancient uncle."

Christopher gave an involuntary sigh.

"Jealous again?" demanded Aymer quizzically, but he put his hand on
Christopher's and they both smiled.

Patricia and Christopher were married at Christmas, Charlotte having
given her consent with the remark, it was better than having a horrid
stranger in the family anyway.

They established themselves in a house on the verge of the sea, within
easy motor or train distance of Marden and the Patrimondi works. It
was a relief to all to find how easily Caesar appeared to take the new
separation, but the quiet peace and unspoken happiness of the united
lives seemed to include him in its all-embracing results. There could
be no room for jealousy in a love that usurped no rights, but only
filled its own place.

The days of doubt which Patricia had feared came and passed in the
autumn weeks preceding the marriage, and Christopher had kept his word
and held her firmly against the weak terrors that assailed her. Once
they were married, however, she seemed to pass out of the shadow of
the fear, and to break from the bondage of her race. In some wonderful
way her husband's clear, perpetual vision of her as separate from the
tyranny of heredity, did actually free her. She too saw herself free,
and in so seeing, the fetters were loosed. If it were a miracle, as
little Renata sometimes thought, it was only one in so far as the Love
which can inspire such faith and vision is yet but a strange unknown
power with us, to which nature seldom rises, and can rarely hold when
grasped.

But these two held it, rising with each other's efforts, sinking with
each other's daily failures; their lives so intricately woven together
that they needed no outward semblance of interests or visible
companionship to bring the knowledge of their Love to their hearts.

Christopher continued his work, journeying far and wide. Sometimes she
accompanied him actually, sometimes she remained in their home on the
cliff edge, alone but not solitary, looking with joy for his return,
but free from aching need. Quite slowly the Woman learnt to recognise
her unseen, unreckoned sway over the Man, to discover how he could
only rise to the full height of his manhood by strength of the
inspiring love she bro