nabel was as happy in her way as herself in her own, and praised
everything with such warmth that the placid little lady waxed radiant.
Mrs. Tom was very golden-haired and blue-eyed and pink and white, but
none was further removed from insipidity than she. Her features were
strong, particularly her mouth and chin, and she had a repose of manner,
a squareness of shoulder, and a serenity of expression that gave her an
almost solid appearance. It was patent that she was making a success of
her life, and Isabel kissed her at parting with a hearty good-will; but
only the excessive dignity inherited from her Spanish ancestors arrested
a war-whoop as she almost ran down the hill. She had been detained until
five o'clock in spite of ingenious excuses, and when she mounted her
horse she galloped for the country at such a rate of speed that the
drowsy town turned over. When she reached a long and lonely stretch of
road she indulged herself in snatches of Spanish songs, and when she was
at home she did not go to bed till near midnight, so happy was she in
the contemplation of her solitude.

VII

Gwynne found few letters awaiting him; he had not encouraged
correspondence, and only his mother, Flora Thangue, and his solicitors
knew his address. It had been announced and reiterated in London that he
was making a tour of the world. During the first month of his absence
Lady Victoria had sent him a large bundle of clippings from newspapers,
some acid in comment upon his obvious intention of neglecting his duties
as a peer of the realm, his fruitless exposure of a chagrin at an
elevation in which he would find more and more consolation as time went
on. A few were sympathetic. Others went so far as to indicate a program
in which he might serve his country with modesty, if not with the
scintillations of the free-lance; and reminded him that peers had risen
to the post of prime-minister ere this, of viceroy, lord-lieutenant,
governor-general, and ambassador. Then, apparently, they dismissed him.
The fiscal question was acute. Dissolution threatened. There were bright
particular stars still in both parties, and the press and public had
enough to do with sitting in judgment upon their respective rays.

In the two letters from his mother, written at Homburg, there was no
news beyond the letting of the properties and a bulletin of her health,
which promised an imminent fitness for travel. His solicitors wrote that
the income from the