Carstares bowed to his Grace, who stood watching them from the stairs. The bow was returned with exaggerated flourish. Carstares looked down at his wife. "So soon, Lavinia?" he remonstrated, and indicated her mourning. She shook his hand off impatiently. "Oh, Dicky, does it matter? What can it signify? I do not ask you to come--" "No," he said half-sadly, half-amusedly. "I notice that, my dear." "No, no! I did not mean to be unkind--you must not think that! You _don't_ think it, do you, Dick?" "Oh, no," he sighed. "Good Dicky!" She patted his cheek coaxingly. "Then you will allow me to go--ah, but yes, yes, you must listen! You know how dull I am, and how silly--'tis because I need a change, and I _want_ to go to Andover. I _want_ to go!" "Yes, dear, I know. But my father is not yet dead six weeks, and I cannot think it seemly--" "Please, Dick, please! Please do not say no! 'Twill make me so unhappy! Oh, you will not be so unkind? You will not forbid me to go?" "I ask you not to, Lavinia. If you need a change, I will take you quietly to Bath, or where you will. Do not pain me by going to Andover just now." "Bath! Bath! What do I want with Bath at this time of the year? Oh, 'tis kind in you to offer, but I want to go to Andover! I want to see all the old friends again. And I want to get away from everything here--'tis all so gloomy--after--after my lord's death!" "Dearest, of course you shall go away--but if only you would remember that you are in mourning--" "But 'tis what I wish to forget! Oh, Dicky, don't, don't, don't be unkind." "Very well, dear. If you must go--go." She clapped her hands joyfully. "Oh thank you, Dicky! And you are not angry with me?" "No, dear, of course not." "Ah! Now I am happy! 'Tis sweet of you, Dicky, but confess you are secretly thankful to be rid of me for a week! Now are you not?" She spread out her fan in the highest good-humour and coquetted behind it. Richard was induced to smile. "I fear I shall miss you too sadly, dear." "Oh!" She dropped the fan. "But think how you will look forward to seeing me again, and I you. Why, I shall be so thankful to be back after a week away, that I shall be good for months!" His face lightened, and he caught her hands in his. "Darling, if I thought you would miss me--" "But of course I shall miss you, Dick--oh, _pray_, mind my frock! Shall I not miss him, Tracy?" Richard suddenly remembered his brother-in-law's presence. He turned and went to the foot of the stairs. "So you are determined to wrest my wife from me?" he smiled. Tracy descended leisurely, opening his snuff-box. "Yes, I require a hostess," he said. "And I have"--he paused--"induced her to honour Andover with her presence. Shall we have the felicity of seeing you at any time?" "I thank you, no. I am not, you will understand, in the mood for the gaiety for which my poor Lavinia craves."