!" said Denzil.

"Yes, if you like."

Quarrier wished to discuss the point, but the other kept an obstinate
silence.

"I understand," remarked Denzil, at length. "You hit upon that thought
out of kindness to me. You don't like my project, and you wished to
save me from its dangers. I understand. Hearty thanks, but I have made
up my mind. I won't stunt my life out of regard for an imbecile
superstition. The dangers are _not_ great; and if they were, I should
prefer to risk them. You electioneering! Ho, ho!"

Glazzard's lips were close drawn, his eyes veiled by the drooping lids.
He had ceased to smoke, and when, a few minutes later, he threw away
his cigar, it was all but squeezed flat by the two fingers which had
seemed to hold it lightly.

"It is settled!" cried Denzil, jumping up, with a return of his
extravagant spirits. "You, Glazzard, will stand by and watch--our
truest friend. You on the hustings! Ha, ha, ha! Come, one more glass of
whisky, and I will tell them to get our cab ready. I say, Glazzard,
from this evening forth never a word between us about the secret. That
is understood, of course. You may let people know that you were in my
confidence about the private marriage. But I can trust your discretion
as my own. Your glass--pledge me in the old style!"

Ten minutes more, and they were driving back to Polterham.

CHAPTER X

But for domestic warfare, Mrs. Mumbray would often have been at a loss
how to spend her time. The year of her husband's Mayoralty supplied, it
is true, a good many unwonted distractions, but in the middle of the
morning, and late in the evening (if there were no dinner-party),
_ennui_ too frequently weighed upon her. For relief in the former case,
she could generally resort to a quarrel with Serena; in the latter, she
preferred to wrangle with her spouse.

One morning early in December, having indulged her ill-humour with even
more than usual freedom among the servants, she repaired to the smaller
drawing-room, where, at this hour, her daughter often sat reading.
Serena was at a table, a French book and dictionary open before her.
After hovering for a few moments with eyes that gathered wrath, the
Mayoress gave voice to her feelings.

"So you pay no attention to my wishes, Serena! I will not have you
reading such books!"

Her daughter rustled the dictionary, impassive. Conscious of reduced
authority, Mrs. Mumbray glared and breathed hard, her spacious bosom
working l