She told the story. Lady Coryston, it seemed, had canceled all the arrangements for the Coryston meeting, and spoke no more of it. She was cool and distant, indeed, toward Arthur, but only those who knew her well would perhaps have noticed it. And he, on his side, having gained his point, had been showing himself particularly amiable; had gone off that morning to pay political visits in the division; and was doing his duty in the afternoon by captaining the village cricket team in their Whitsuntide match. But next week, of course, he would be in London again for the reassembling of Parliament, and hanging about the Glenwilliams' house, as before. "They're not engaged?" "Oh dear, no! Coryston doesn't believe _she_ means it seriously at all. He also thinks that mother is plotting something." "When can I see Coryston?" Newbury turned to her with a rather forced smile. "You know, darling, he'll have to get used to me as a brother!" "He says he wants to see you--to--to have it out with you," said Marcia, awkwardly. Then with a sudden movement, she clasped both her hands round Newbury's arm. "Edward!--do--_do_ make us all happy!" He looked down on the liquid eyes, the fresh young face raised appealingly to his. "How can I make you happy?" He lifted one hand and kissed it. "You darling!--what can I do?" But as he spoke he knew what she meant and dreaded the coming moment. That she should ask anything in these magical days that he could not at once lay at her feet!--she, who had promised him herself! "_Please_--let Mr. Betts stay--please, Edward! Oh, I was so sorry for her yesterday!" "We are all so sorry for her," he said, after a pause. "My father and mother will do all they can." "Then you _will_ let him stay?" Her white brow dropped caressingly against him. "Of course!--if he will only accept my father's conditions," he said, unwillingly, hating to see her bright look darkening. She straightened herself. "If they separate, you mean?" "I'm afraid that's what they ought to do." "But it would break their hearts." He threw her a sudden flashing look, as though a sword gleamed. "It would make amends." "For what they have done? But they don't feel like that!" she pleaded, her color rising. "They think themselves properly married, and that no one has a right to interfere with them. And when the law says so too, Edward?--Won't everybody think it _very_ hard?" "Yes, we shall be blamed," he said, quietly. "But don't you see, dearest, that, if they stay, we seem to condone the marriage, to say that it doesn't matter,--what they have done?--when in truth it seems to us a black offense--" "Against what--or whom?" she asked, wondering. The answer came unflinchingly: "Against our Lord--and His Church." The revolt within showed itself in her shining eyes. "Ought we to set up these standards for other people? And they don't ask to stay _here_!--at least she doesn't. That's what Mrs. Betts came to say to me--"