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steadfastly at the aviary in front of him as though exotic
pheasants were for the moment the most absorbing study in the
world。 As a matter of fact； his mind was centred on the image of
Elaine de Frey； with her clear untroubled eyes and her Leonardo da
Vinci air。 He was wondering whether he was likely to fall into a
frame of mind concerning her which would be in the least like
falling in love。
〃I shall mind horribly；〃 continued Molly； after a pause； 〃but； of
course； I have always known that something of the sort would have
to happen one of these days。 When a man goes into politics he
can't call his soul his own； and I suppose his heart becomes an
impersonal possession in the same way。〃
〃Most people who know me would tell you that I haven't got a
heart；〃 said Youghal。
〃I've often felt inclined to agree with them；〃 said Molly； 〃and
then； now and again； I think you have a heart tucked away
somewhere。〃
〃I hope I have；〃 said Youghal； 〃because I'm trying to break to you
the fact that I think I'm falling in love with somebody。〃
Molly McQuade turned sharply to look at her companion； who still
fixed his gaze on the pheasant run in front of him。
〃Don't tell me you're losing your head over somebody useless；
someone without money；〃 she said； 〃I don't think I could stand
that。〃
For the moment she feared that Courtenay's selfishness might have
taken an unexpected turn； in which ambition had given way to the
fancy of the hour； he might be going to sacrifice his Parliamentary
career for a life of stupid lounging in momentarily attractive
company。 He quickly undeceived her。
〃She's got heaps of money。〃
Molly gave a grunt of relief。 Her affection for Courtenay had
produced the anxiety which underlay her first question； a natural
jealousy prompted the next one。
〃Is she young and pretty and all that sort of thing； or is she just
a good sort with a sympathetic manner and nice eyes？ As a rule
that's the kind that goes with a lot of money。〃
〃Young and quite good…looking in her way； and a distinct style of
her own。 Some people would call her beautiful。 As a political
hostess I should think she'd be splendid。 I imagine I'm rather in
love with her。〃
〃And is she in love with you？〃
Youghal threw back his head with the slight assertive movement that
Molly knew and liked。
〃She's a girl who I fancy would let judgment influence her a lot。
And without being stupidly conceited； I think I may say she might
do worse than throw herself away on me。 I'm young and quite good…
looking； and I'm making a name for myself in the House； she'll be
able to read all sorts of nice and horrid things about me in the
papers at breakfast…time。 I can be brilliantly amusing at times；
and I understand the value of silence； there is no fear that I
shall ever degenerate into that fearsome thing … a cheerful
talkative husband。 For a girl with money and social ambitions I
should think I was rather a good thing。〃
〃You are certainly in love； Courtenay；〃 said Molly； 〃but it's the
old love and not a new one。 I'm rather glad。 I should have hated
to have you head…over…heels in love with a pretty woman； even for a
short time。 You'll be much happier as it is。 And I'm going to put
all my feelings in the background； and tell you to go in and win。
You've got to marry a rich woman； and if she's nice and will make a
good hostess； so much the better for everybody。 You'll be happier
in your married life than I shall be in mine； when it comes； you'll
have other interests to absorb you。 I shall just have the garden
and dairy and nursery and lending library； as like as two peas to
all the gardens and dairies and nurseries for hundreds of miles
round。 You won't care for your wife enough to be worried every
time she has a finger…ache； and you'll like her well enough to be
pleased to meet her sometimes at your own house。 I shouldn't
wonder if you were quite happy。 She will probably be miserable；
but any woman who married you would be。〃
There was a short pause； they were both staring at the pheasant
cages。 Then Molly spoke again； with the swift nervous tone of a
general who is hurriedly altering the disposition of his forces for
a strategic retreat。
〃When you are safely married and honey…mooned and all that sort of
thing； and have put your wife through her paces as a political
hostess； some time； when the House isn't sitting； you must come
down by yourself； and do a little hunting with us。 Will you？ It
won't be quite the same as old times； but it will be something to
look forward to when I'm reading the endless paragraphs about your
fashionable political wedding。〃
〃You're looking forward pretty far；〃 laughed Youghal； 〃the lady may
take your view as to the probable unhappiness of a future shared
with me； and I may have to content myself with penurious political
bachelorhood。 Anyhow； the present is still with us。 We dine at
Kettner's to…night； don't we？〃
〃Rather；〃 said Molly； 〃though it will be more or less a throat…
lumpy feast as far as I am concerned。 We shall have to drink to
the health of the future Mrs。 Youghal。 By the way； it's rather
characteristic of you that you haven't told me who she is； and of
me that I haven't asked。 And now； like a dear boy； trot away and
leave me。 I haven't got to say good…bye to you yet； but I'm going
to take a quiet farewell of the Pheasantry。 We've had some jolly
good talks； you and I； sitting on this seat； haven't we？ And I
know； as well as I know anything； that this is the last of them。
Eight o'clock to…night； as punctually as possible。〃
She watched his retreating figure with eyes that grew slowly misty；
he had been such a jolly comely boy…friend； and they had had such
good times together。 The mist deepened on her lashes as she looked
round at the familiar rendezvous where they had so often kept tryst
since the day when they had first come there together； he a
schoolboy and she but lately out of her teens。 For the moment she
felt herself in the thrall of a very real sorrow。
Then； with the admirable energy of one who is only in town for a
fleeting fortnight； she raced away to have tea with a world…faring
naval admirer at his club。 Pluralism is a merciful narcotic。
CHAPTER VI
ELAINE DE FREY sat at ease … at bodily ease … at any rate … in a
low wicker chair placed under the shade of a group of cedars in the
heart of a stately spacious garden that had almost made up its mind
to be a park。 The shallow stone basin of an old fountain； on whose
wide ledge a leaden…moulded otter for ever preyed on a leaden
salmon； filled a conspicuous place in the immediate foreground。
Around its rim ran an inscription in Latin； warning mortal man that
time flows as swiftly as water and exhorting him to make the most
of his hours； after which piece of Jacobean moralising it set
itself shamelessly to beguile all who might pass that way into an
abandonment of contemplative repose。 On all sides of it a stretch
of smooth turf spread away； broken up here and there by groups of
dwarfish chestnut and mulberry trees； whose leaves and branches
cast a laced pattern of shade beneath them。 On one side the lawn
sloped gently down to a small lake； whereon floated a quartette of
swans； their movements suggestive of a certain mournful
listlessness； as though a weary dignity of caste held them back
from the joyous bustling life of the lesser waterfowl。 Elaine
liked to imagine that they re…embodied the souls of unhappy boys
who had been forced by family interests to become high
ecclesiastical dignitaries and had grown prematurely Right
Reverend。 A low stone balustrade fenced part of the shore of the
lake； making a miniature terrace above its level； and here roses
grew in a rich multitude。 Other rose bushes； carefully pruned and
tended； formed little oases of colour and perfume amid the restful
green of the sward； and in the distance the eye caught the
variegated blaze of a many…hued hedge of rhododendron。 With these
favoured exceptions flowers were hard to find in this well…ordered
garden； the misguided tyranny of staring geranium beds and be…
flowered archways leading to nowhere； so dear to the suburban
gardener； found no expression here。 Magnificent Amherst pheasants；
whose plumage challenged and almost shamed the peacock on his own
ground； stepped to and fro over the emerald turf with the assured
self…conscious pride of reigning sultans。 It was a garden where
summer seemed a part…proprietor rather than a hurried visitor。
By the side of Elaine's chair under the shadow of the cedars a
wicker table was set out with the paraphernalia of afternoon tea。
On some cushions at her feet reclined Courtenay Youghal； smoothly
preened and you