On one occasion, when he did find his friend alone, Maxon complained of the times when he had not. "I've nothing against him, of course, but it's you I come to talk to. Why, I scandalize my clerk, and sometimes my clients, for the sake of coming!" He managed to keep voice and manner playful. She was gracious, admitting the force of his plea. "It was stupid of me not to think! Of course Sir Axel can come at any time. I'll give him a hint to call earlier. Is that satisfactory, my lord?" She sometimes called him by that title--partly in anticipation of the judgeship, but also with a hint of raillery at the domineering nature. "It's very kind--and don't you like it better like this yourself?" "Perhaps I do. And clearly you do. And"--she smiled--"very likely Sir Axel does. We shall all three be pleased! Delightful!" "I wasn't thinking of his point of view, I confess." He was rather too scornful. "No, but he may think of it, I suppose? And I suppose I may, if I like, Mr. Maxon?" He looked at her sourly for just a moment, then recovered himself and, without replying, passed on to the subject of a book which he had brought her. But he was annoyed that she should resist him, stand up to him, and claim her liberty--especially her liberty to receive Sir Axel alone. However, it was not good fighting ground; he had brought her rebuke upon himself. Lady Rosaline was quite alive to the fact that Sir Axel's appearance and Sir Axel's attentiveness were a valuable asset to her, but she did not think of her old friend's husband in any other light. To begin with, he himself, though assiduous, had shown no sign of sentiment. If he were moving in that direction at all, he was moving slowly and secretly. And then she was still inclined to Maxon. She had a great opinion of his ability--she was more sure about that than about how much she liked him--and the chances of a high career for him allured her. But Sir Axel and his assiduity enhanced her value and buttressed her independence. They helped her to establish her position; she had an idea that the more firmly she established it now, the better it would resist any attacks on it, if and when she became Lady Rosaline Maxon. Here she was probably right. But she had another idea too. She was not going to be dictated to; she would not be browbeaten into becoming Lady Rosaline Maxon.