Myles was still dimly aware that the brilliant vision, which he kept expecting to see fade away like a dissolving view, to be followed by that of Adrienne, held out her hand graciously, saying something about ‘My husband has often told me about you,’ or words to that effect; and that he took the hand and bowed over it--very creditably, considering his state of mind. Then Sebastian placed a chair for--yes, his wife--it must be his wife, Myles argued within himself, and the conversation was taken up, and he listened to it in silence for a time, gradually comprehending that he had been labouring under a delusion, but a different delusion than he had imagined. By and by he became able to answer some remark addressed to him by Helena, and then she continued to talk to him, and Myles found himself being drawn out to show to the best advantage, saying clever things which he had had no idea that he could say, until they were elicited by the tact and sympathy of a woman like Helena. Still, he could not altogether get rid of the sensation that he was in a dream, and he continued to feel so for the rest of the evening. When he was going away, Sebastian asked him if he could see him on the following morning. ‘At any time you please,’ said Myles. ‘Then I will call at the works in the forenoon. I can soon say what I have to say.’ On that understanding they parted. CHAPTER III. WHICH WINS? The following forenoon, while it was yet early, Myles saw Sebastian coming through the great yard, towards the office where he sat. His face wore an expression of gravity--even of trouble--and he frowned thoughtfully as he came along. Myles took him into his private room. He could not help thinking of how he had received him on that eventful morning when he came driving up to the office at Thanshope with Hugo beside him, and Myles smiled a little sadly at the change. ‘You came on business, perhaps,’ suggested Myles. ‘Yes; but I had no idea myself, until about an hour ago, how pressing the business was. Herr Süsmeyer and I were talking about you last evening before you came. He tells me his son is on his way home, and that he intends devoting himself to business.’ ‘Yes; I believe that is true.’ ‘Under those circumstances, I presume, your position would be somewhat changed.’ ‘Certainly. It would naturally become more subordinate.’ ‘Will you like that?’ Myles shrugged his shoulders. ‘Herr Süsmeyer was talking to me about it. He gave me a very high character of you. He very much regrets your having to take a secondary position. He says he would be very sorry to part with you for many reasons, but not if you left him to your own advantage.’ ‘Does Herr Süsmeyer want to get rid of me?’ asked Myles. ‘On the very contrary. He only wishes to see your position improved. I may as well come to the point. You would hear that I have been returned as the representative of Thanshope, in Parliament.’