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influence； setting before her son an example of showy ambition that
he was not in the least likely to follow； and providing him with a
model of extravagant dandyism that he was only too certain to copy。
In her heart she knew that Comus would have embarked just as surely
on his present course of idle self…indulgence if he had never known
of the existence of Youghal； but she chose to regard that young man
as her son's evil genius； and now he seemed likely to justify more
than ever the character she had fastened on to him。 For once in
his life Comus appeared to have an idea of behaving sensibly and
making some use of his opportunities； and almost at the same moment
Courtenay Youghal arrived on the scene as a possible and very
dangerous rival。 Against the good looks and fitful powers of
fascination that Comus could bring into the field； the young
politician could match half…a…dozen dazzling qualities which would
go far to recommend him in the eyes of a woman of the world； still
more in those of a young girl in search of an ideal。 Good…looking
in his own way； if not on such showy lines as Comus； always well
turned…out； witty； self…confident without being bumptious； with a
conspicuous Parliamentary career alongside him； and heaven knew
what else in front of him； Courtenay Youghal certainly was not a
rival whose chances could be held very lightly。 Francesca laughed
bitterly to herself as she remembered that a few hours ago she had
entertained the idea of begging for his good offices in helping on
Comus's wooing。 One consolation； at least； she found for herself：
if Youghal really meant to step in and try and cut out his young
friend； the latter at any rate had snatched a useful start。 Comus
had mentioned Miss de Frey at luncheon that day； casually and
dispassionately； if the subject of the dinner guests had not come
up he would probably not have mentioned her at all。 But they were
obviously already very good friends。 It was part and parcel of the
state of domestic tension at Blue Street that Francesca should only
have come to know of this highly interesting heiress by an
accidental sorting of guests at a dinner party。
Lady Caroline's voice broke in on her reflections； it was a gentle
purring voice； that possessed an uncanny quality of being able to
make itself heard down the longest dinner table。
〃The dear Archdeacon is getting so absent…minded。 He read a list
of box…holders for the opera as the First Lesson the other Sunday；
instead of the families and lots of the tribes of Israel that
entered Canaan。 Fortunately no one noticed the mistake。〃
CHAPTER V
ON a conveniently secluded bench facing the Northern Pheasantry in
the Zoological Society's Gardens； Regent's Park； Courtenay Youghal
sat immersed in mature flirtation with a lady； who； though
certainly young in fact and appearance； was some four or five years
his senior。 When he was a schoolboy of sixteen； Molly McQuade had
personally conducted him to the Zoo and stood him dinner afterwards
at Kettner's； and whenever the two of them happened to be in town
on the anniversary of that bygone festivity they religiously
repeated the programme in its entirety。 Even the menu of the
dinner was adhered to as nearly as possible； the original selection
of food and wine that schoolboy exuberance； tempered by schoolboy
shyness； had pitched on those many years ago； confronted Youghal on
those occasions； as a drowning man's past life is said to rise up
and parade itself in his last moments of consciousness。
The flirtation which was thus perennially restored to its old…time
footing owed its longevity more to the enterprising solicitude of
Miss McQuade than to any conscious sentimental effort on the part
of Youghal himself。 Molly McQuade was known to her neighbours in a
minor hunting shire as a hard…riding conventionally unconventional
type of young woman； who came naturally into the classification； 〃a
good sort。〃 She was just sufficiently good…looking； sufficiently
reticent about her own illnesses； when she had any； and
sufficiently appreciative of her neighbours' gardens； children and
hunters to be generally popular。 Most men liked her； and the
percentage of women who disliked her was not inconveniently high。
One of these days； it was assumed； she would marry a brewer or a
Master of Otter Hounds； and； after a brief interval； be known to
the world as the mother of a boy or two at Malvern or some similar
seat of learning。 The romantic side of her nature was altogether
unguessed by the country…side。
Her romances were mostly in serial form and suffered perhaps in
fervour from their disconnected course what they gained in length
of days。 Her affectionate interest in the several young men who
figured in her affairs of the heart was perfectly honest； and she
certainly made no attempt either to conceal their separate
existences； or to play them off one against the other。 Neither
could it be said that she was a husband hunter； she had made up her
mind what sort of man she was likely to marry； and her forecast did
not differ very widely from that formed by her local acquaintances。
If her married life were eventually to turn out a failure； at least
she looked forward to it with very moderate expectations。 Her love
affairs she put on a very different footing and apparently they
were the all…absorbing element in her life。 She possessed the
happily constituted temperament which enables a man or woman to be
a 〃pluralist；〃 and to observe the sage precaution of not putting
all one's eggs into one basket。 Her demands were not exacting； she
required of her affinity that he should be young； good…looking； and
at least； moderately amusing； she would have preferred him to be
invariably faithful； but； with her own example before her； she was
prepared for the probability； bordering on certainty； that he would
be nothing of the sort。 The philosophy of the 〃Garden of Kama〃 was
the compass by which she steered her barque and thus far； if she
had encountered some storms and buffeting； she had at least escaped
being either shipwrecked or becalmed。
Courtenay Youghal had not been designed by Nature to fulfil the
ROLE of an ardent or devoted lover； and he scrupulously respected
the limits which Nature had laid down。 For Molly； however； he had
a certain responsive affection。 She had always obviously admired
him； and at the same time she never beset him with crude flattery；
the principal reason why the flirtation had stood the test of so
many years was the fact that it only flared into active existence
at convenient intervals。 In an age when the telephone has
undermined almost every fastness of human privacy； and the sanctity
of one's seclusion depends often on the ability for tactful
falsehood shown by a club pageboy； Youghal was duly appreciative of
the circumstance that his lady fair spent a large part of the year
pursuing foxes； in lieu of pursuing him。 Also the honestly
admitted fact that； in her human hunting； she rode after more than
one quarry； made the inevitable break…up of the affair a matter to
which both could look forward without a sense of coming
embarrassment and recrimination。 When the time for gathering ye
rosebuds should be over； neither of them could accuse the other of
having wrecked his or her entire life。 At the most they would only
have disorganised a week…end。
On this particular afternoon； when old reminiscences had been gone
through； and the intervening gossip of past months duly recounted；
a lull in the conversation made itself rather obstinately felt。
Molly had already guessed that matters were about to slip into a
new phase； the affair had reached maturity long ago； and a new
phase must be in the nature of a wane。
〃You're a clever brute；〃 she said； suddenly； with an air of
affectionate regret； 〃I always knew you'd get on in the House； but
I hardly expected you to come to the front so soon。〃
〃I'm coming to the front；〃 admitted Youghal； judicially； 〃the
problem is； shall I be able to stay there。 Unless something
happens in the financial line before long； I don't see how I'm to
stay in Parliament at all。 Economy is out of the question。 It
would open people's eyes； I fancy； if they knew how little I exist
on as it is。 And I'm living so far beyond my income that we may
almost be said to be living apart。〃
〃It will have to be a rich wife； I suppose；〃 said Molly； slowly；
〃that's the worst of success； it imposes so many conditions。 I
rather knew； from something in your manner； that you were drifting
that way。〃
Youghal said nothing in the way of contradiction； he gazed
steadfastly at the aviary in front of him as though exotic
pheasants were for the moment the most absorbing study in the
world。