at was already on his head and his back
was almost turned to her. He opened the door, and, allowing her to
pass out first, led the way to the shrubbery. He did not speak to her
till he had closed behind her the little iron gate which separated
the walk from the garden, and then he turned upon her with one word.
"Well?" he said. She was silent for a moment, and then he repeated
his eager question: "Well;--well?"

"I should disgrace you," she said, not firmly as before, but
whispering the words.

He waited for no other assent. The form of the words told him that he
had won the day. In a moment his arms were round her, and her veil
was off, and his lips were pressed to hers;--and when she could see
his countenance the whole form of his face was altered to her. It was
bright as it used to be bright in old days, and he was smiling on her
as he used to smile. "My own," he said;--"my wife--my own!" And she
had no longer the power to deny him. "Not yet, Arthur; not yet," was
all that she could say.

CHAPTER LXXX

The Last Meeting at Matching

The ex-Prime Minister did not carry out his purpose of leaving London
in the middle of the season and travelling either to Italy or Norway.
He was away from London at Whitsuntide longer perhaps than he might
have been if still in office, and during this period regarded himself
as a man from whose hands all work had been taken,--as one who had
been found unfit to carry any longer a burden serviceably; but before
June was over he and the Duchess were back in London, and gradually
he allowed himself to open his mouth on this or that subject in the
House of Lords,--not pitching into everybody all round, as his wife
had recommended, but expressing an opinion now and again, generally
in support of his friends, with the dignity which should belong to a
retired Prime Minister. The Duchess too recovered much of her good
temper,--as far at least as the outward show went. One or two who
knew her, especially Mrs. Finn, were aware that her hatred and her
ideas of revenge were not laid aside; but she went on from day to day
anathematizing her special enemies and abstained from reproaching
her husband for his pusillanimity. Then came the question as to
the autumn. "Let's have everybody down at Gatherum, just as we had
before," said the Duchess.

The proposition almost took away the Duke's breath. "Why do you want
a crowd, like that?"

"Just to show them that we are not beaten because we