But the real trouble was that what she said she stuck to. She began to care much less for reform, and now never read Herbert Spencer and the greater philosopher, who has discovered that man doesn’t think so much of yesterday as he does of to-morrow. She forgot the Deceased Wife’s Sister, and ignored the London County Council, and didn’t read the _Times_ except on great occasions. She spent the days in dreaming, and, except when she was devouring the space between London and Lincolnshire, she lay about on sofas and read poetry or listened to Bob, and looked ten thousand times more beautiful than ever, like the Eastern beauties, of whom one reads in the Arabian Nights, returning from the bath. She was wonderfully affectionate to Bob, who was a most considerate boy, and didn’t worry her when he had once discovered that asking questions was no use. He told her of his vain efforts to find out whom she had married, and was very amusing. He began to have great ambitions. "Mr. Gordon says I’ve a great future before me, Pen. He thinks no end of me. He says being a duke by and by is all very well, but I agree with him there are greater things than merely being one. He says the men with power are the rulers of the world. He told me how he and Rothschild stopped a war in a hurry. He didn’t say which war. I asked him why he didn’t stop the South African War, and he said that was different. I asked him did he bring it on then, and he said ’No.’ But I think he did, somehow. Will you ask old Sir Henry if he did? I don’t like Sir Henry, though, do you?" He went on to tell her about Sherlock Holmes. "I’m reading him through again, Pen. And when I go down to De Vere’s I shall ask De Vere to invite the man that wrote him. I’m going to De Vere’s to take him a sick dog. He said he wanted one, and I’ve got one from Baker. Baker says he must want to vivisect him, and he doesn’t like the idea. Baker’s a very kind man to animals, but I’ve given my word that the dog sha’n’t be vivisected. You don’t think a poet would, do you? Did you tell him to learn to be a vet or anything? If you did, that would explain it. I’ve been through the whole list, Pen, and, though I won’t worry you, I’ve come to the conclusion so far that I don’t know which you’ve married. If I find out I won’t tell." "You’re a dear," said Pen, languidly. "I’ve got a notion how to find out, though," said Bob. "At least, I shall have when I’ve finished Sherlock Holmes. I’d rather be Sherlock Holmes than a duke. It seems to me that unless you are the Duke of Norfolk or the Duke of Devonshire you are out of it. Being a common duke is dull, but being Holmes must be very exciting." One thing that he told her made her think furiously. "Not one of ’em really believes you, Pen, and they’re much more jealous of each other than they were. I believe they’ll be fighting presently." "Don’t talk nonsense," said Pen, anxiously.