"I want to get you away from this house. I want to take you out of all that belonged to old times and sorrows. Have you forgotten that we are to go to Italy? To all the places where you were so happy with your father? Let us be married and start at once." But Camilla always pleaded for time. "I tell you why," she said to him once. "I want you--us--to get thoroughly well used to one another. Of course, you have known me a long time--it is nearly two years since we met--but there are such heaps of things we ought to realize before we make our great start together. I have made a little promise to myself," Camilla said weightily, "that I will not marry you till I have taught myself to be a little worthy of you." "I wish you would not talk such rubbish," the man answered, with a very natural touch of bad temper. "Now, you see," said Camilla, and she laughed--"you see I have done something to annoy you, and I am sure I don't know what it is. I shall be perpetually making these mistakes if we marry in haste." Then she changed her tone. "Surely, dear Rupert, we should be much wiser to wait another month or two. I--I am not really well enough to go abroad just yet. After Easter it will be delightful. We will do Paris first, and then go on to the south of Italy. Naples is enchanting in May." She gave a quick sigh. "And then I am making up my mind to be separated from the children," she said, "and, as Sammy Broxbourne would put it, 'it takes a little doing!' Oh, by the way, did I tell you that I had quite a charming letter from Sir Samuel, congratulating me on my engagement to you? Poor fellow! he has had an accident at Monte Carlo, and has injured his leg. He tells me he will not be able to walk for another month or so, and cannot get back to England just yet." "The longer he stays away the better for England," said Haverford; "he is a very objectionable man." "Oh, I see," answered Camilla, almost impatiently. "Agnes has been prejudicing you." But Haverford made no reply to this, and the subject was dropped. This was but a specimen of the conversation which passed between them whenever they met. But, as a matter of fact, they saw very little of one another. Camilla got into the habit of running away from town to stay with one friend or another; the greater part of her time, however, was spent at Yelverton. When she said she was not well in these days she stated the actual truth. Mrs. Brenton was a little anxious about her, and tried to coddle her, and make her take care of herself--a difficult operation. It was strange to see Camilla listless and bored. She could not be roused to take an interest in anything except what concerned the children.