ed. But now if he should chance
to discover that the woman for whom he had done all this was not in
herself a piece of perfection----His mother felt her very heart sink
at the thought. No one was perfect enough to satisfy Theo; no one was
perfect at all so far as her own experience went. And when he made this
terrible discovery, what would he do?

In the meantime they went to luncheon, and there was talk of the repairs
wanted in the house, and of what Theo was doing "at home." He was very
unwilling, however, to speak of "home," or of what he had begun to do
there. He told them indeed of the trees that had been cut down, over
which Chatty made many exclamations, mourning for them; but even Chatty
was not vigorous in her lamentations. They sat and talked, not interested
in anything they were saying, the mother seated between them, watching
each, herself scarcely able to keep up the thread of coherent conversation,
making now and then incursions on either side from which she was obliged
to retreat hurriedly; referring now to some London experience which
Chatty's extreme dignity and silence showed she did not want to be
mentioned, or to something on the other side from which Theo withdrew
with still more distinct reluctance to be put under discussion. It was
not till this uncomfortable meal was over that Theo made any further
communication about his own affairs. He was on his way to the door,
whither his mother had followed him, when he turned round as if
accidentally. "By the bye," he said, "I forgot to tell you. _She_ will
be here presently, mother. She wanted to lose no time in seeing you."

"Lady Markland!" said Mrs. Warrender, with a little start.

He fixed his eyes upon her severely. "Who else? She is coming about
three. I shall come back, and go home with her."

"Theo, before I meet your future wife---- You have never given me any
details. Oh, tell me what has happened and what is going to happen.
Don't leave me to meet her in ignorance of everything."

"What is it you want to know?" he said, with his sombre air, setting his
back against the wall. "You know all that I know."

"Which is no more than that she has accepted you, Theo."

"Well, what more would you have? That is how it stands now, and may for
months for anything I can tell."

"I should have thought it would have been better to get everything
settled quickly. Why should there be any delay?"

"Ah, why? You must ask that of Mr. Longstaffe," he said,