understand her, he kept up the conversation chiefly with Lord
Martindale on rates, police, and committees.

She thought of the horror he had been wont to express of the English
squirearchy, 'whose arena is the quarter sessions;' and she remembered
standing up for them, and declaring there was far more honest, sturdy,
chivalrous maintenance of right and freedom in their history than in
all his beloved Lombardic republics. And now, what was he but a
thorough-going country gentleman, full of plans of usefulness, sparing
neither thought, time, nor means; and though some of his views were
treated by Lord Martindale as wild and theoretical, yet, at any rate,
they proved that he had found living men a more interesting study than
the Apollo Belvedere.

Theodora was resolved that Violet should see him, and now that the
dinner was eaten and beyond anxiety, went up to disclose his presence,
and persuade her to go down to tea and leave her with the patient.
She found it was well she had kept her counsel; Violet took it quietly
enough; but Arthur chose to concern himself as to what wine had been
produced, and would have sent a message to James if his sister had not
assured him that it was too late.

He insisted on Violet's going down to the drawing-room, and would not
hear of Theodora's remaining with him. The nurse was in the outer room,
and Johnnie was made supremely happy by being allowed to sit up an hour
longer to be his companion; and thus with Lord Martindale and Theodora
making frequent expeditions to visit him, Violet was sufficiently
tranquil to remain as long in the drawing-room as was worth the fatigue
of the transit.

She could enjoy her talk with the Earl; and, indeed, since Annette's
visit, she had heard no tidings so full and satisfactory. He knew
the name of every one at Wrangerton; he seemed to have learnt to love
Helvellyn; he spoke very highly of Olivia's husband, Mr. Hunt, declaring
that he liked nothing better than a visit to his most beautiful place,
Lassonthwayte, a farm fit for the poets, and had learnt a great deal
from him; and of Mrs. Moss he talked with affectionate gratitude that
brought the tears into Violet's eyes, especially when he promised to
go and call on her immediately on his return, to tell her how Colonel
Martindale was going on, and describe to her her grandchildren. He
repeated to Violet how kind her mother had been to his sister, and how
beautifully she had nursed him. Lord Martindale