"But of course," said Lady Clara, serenely, "if you think it better that Ida should not go she shall not. The only thing is that if she should get worse we might feel a little uncomfortable afterwards. In a weakness of that sort a very short time may make a difference. Sir William evidently thought the matter critical. Still, there is no reason why he should influence you. It is a little responsibility, however. If you take it all upon yourself and free me from any of it, so that afterwards----" "My dear Clara, how you do croak!" "Oh! I don't wish to do that, Charles. But you remember what happened to Lord Bellamy's child. She was just Ida's age. That was another case in which Sir William's advice was disregarded." Lord Charles groaned impatiently. "I have not disregarded it," said he. "No, no, of course not. I know your strong sense, and your good heart too well, dear. You were very wisely looking at both sides of the question. That is what we poor women cannot do. It is emotion against reason, as I have often heard you say. We are swayed this way and that, but you men are persistent, and so you gain your way with us. But I am so pleased that you have decided for Tangier." "Have I?" "Well, dear, you said that you would not disregard Sir William." "Well, Clara, admitting that Ida is to go to Tangier, you will allow that it is impossible for me to escort her? "Utterly." "And for you? "While you are ill my place is by your side." "There is your sister?" "She is going to Florida." "Lady Dumbarton, then?" "She is nursing her father. It is out of the question." "Well, then, whom can we possibly ask? Especially just as the season is commencing. You see, Clara, the fates fight against Sir William." His wife rested her elbows against the back of the great red chair, and passed her fingers through the statesman's grizzled curls, stooping down as she did so until her lips were close to his ear. "There is Lord Arthur Sibthorpe," said she softly. Lord Charles bounded in his chair, and muttered a word or two such as were more frequently heard from Cabinet Ministers in Lord Melbourne's time than now. "Are you mad, Clara!" he cried. "What can have put such a thought into your head?" "The Prime Minister." "Who? The Prime Minister?" "Yes, dear. Now do, do be good! Or perhaps I had better not speak to you about it any more." "Well, I really think that you have gone rather too far to retreat." "It was the Prime Minister, then, who told me that Lord Arthur was going to Tangier." "It is a fact, though it had escaped my memory for the instant." "And then came Sir William with his advice about Ida. Oh! Charlie, it is surely more than a coincidence!" "I am convinced," said Lord Charles, with his shrewd, questioning gaze, "that it is very much more than a coincidence, Lady Clara. You are a very clever woman, my dear. A born manager and organiser." Lady Clara brushed past the compliment.