"I do," said Urquhart. "Most men are like that at bottom--only some of us can impose ourselves upon our neighbours more easily than he can. Half the marriages of the world break on that rock, and the other half on idleness." She then confessed. "Do you know what I believe in my heart? I believe that James's eyeglass stands in his way with Lancelot--as it certainly did with me." "I think you are right there," he agreed. "But you must allow for it. He's very uncertain of his foothold, and that's his war armour." She was more tolerant of James after that conversation, and less mutinous against her lot. She wondered, of course, what was to become of them, how long she could hold him at arms' length, how she could bring herself to unsay what had been said in the dark of Martley Thicket. But she had boundless faith in Urquhart, and knew, among other things, that any request she made him would be made easy for her. But when, at the end of June, he broached to her his great scheme, she was brought face to face with the situation, and had to ask herself, could she be trusted? That he could she knew very well. He had a project for a month or six weeks in Norway. He had hinted at it when she was at Martley, but now it was broached. He didn't disguise it that his interest lay wholly in her coming. He laid it before her: she, Lancelot and James were to be the nucleus. He should ask the Corbets and their boys, Vera and hers. Nugent would refuse, he knew. Meantime, what did she say? He watched her shining eyes perpending, saw the gleam of anticipated delight. What a plan! But then she looked down, hesitating. Something must now be said. "Oh, of course Lancelot would go mad with joy, and I dare say I could persuade James--" "Well? But you?" "I should live every moment of the time, but--sometimes life seems to cost too much." He held out his hand to her, and she took it very simply. "Promise to come, and you shan't repent it. Mind, you have my word on that." Then he let her go, and they discussed ways and means. She would speak to James; then he should come and dine, and talk it out. Meantime, let him make sure of Vera, and do his best with the Corbets. If they were fixed up, as she thought probable, he might get some other people. Considine might like it. "He's very much at your disposal, let me tell you. You have him at your feet." So it was settled, and James was attacked in front. She told him as they were driving out to dinner that she had met Mr. Urquhart that afternoon. "I dare say you might," said James. But he had stiffened to attention. "He blazed upon me a plan for August. I said I would ask you about it." James said, "H'm. Does it rest with me?" "Naturally it does. I should not think of any plans without talking to you." "No, I suppose you wouldn't," said he. Then he asked, "And what does Urquhart want you to do?" "He doesn't want me, particularly. He wants all three of us."