Almost a child in her simple white frock. The sun shone down on her
flaxen locks, on one tiny hand extended on the seat by her side.
Something gripped at the man's heart at the sight of that hand; it
looked so small, so helpless, so appealing. The poor girl! _On her
honeymoon_! What a bitter disillusionment must be hers! With a sudden
sweeping movement his hand flew outward, and the tabloids hurled through
the air and buried themselves in the grass below. The next moment
Lowther himself descended to the garden, and seated himself by his
wife's side.

"Lilith," he said humbly, "I'm sorry! I was a beast to speak to you as
I did, but you know a man doesn't like interference. Forgive me, like a
good girl, and--I'll tell you something in return! It _was_ time for my
morphia, but I've not taken it. I'm going out with you instead...
Shall we start?"

She lifted her eyes and looked at him. It seemed to him that he looked
upon a new woman. Her eyes were no longer light, but dark and shining.
They were bent upon him with an expression which sent the blood rushing
through his veins. There was triumph in that look, and an immense,
unutterable relief, but there was tenderness also, the tenderness of a
mother towards a struggling child. The remembrance of that look
remained with Lowther and helped him through the inevitable discomforts
of the next hours. Lilith spoke but little; he was thankful to her for
her silence, but once and again when his restlessness grew acute, she
slipped her hand through his arm and pushed it forward, so that her
fingers clasped his wrist. The little hand was warm to the touch. It
was as though some vital force passed from her veins to his, calming,
invigorating.

Only once did Lilith touch on the subject of politics. She asked her
husband what was likely to be the predominant question of the next
session. He told her that it would be the Land Bill, long deferred, but
inevitable: a Bill on which the House was sharply divided, which would
call forth a heat of argument. He answered curtly, with an evident
distaste, and she never renewed the subject. Lowther thanked Providence
for a wife with tact.

They roamed about, from one country to another--Belgium, Holland,
France, Germany, Italy, the Tyrol, taking by preference untrodden paths,
putting up at quiet country inns, enjoying the study of peasant life.
Lilith declared that she was tired of cities, had seen enough show
places to l