Lady Tranmore made her way to the window, and stood there looking out on the park. It was the week before Easter, and the plane-trees were not yet in leaf. But a few thorns inside the park railings were already lavishly green and there was a glitter of spring flowers beside the park walks, not showing, however, in such glorious abundance as became the fashion a few years later. It was a mild afternoon and the drive was full of carriages. From the bow-window of the old irregular house in which she stood, Lady Tranmore could watch the throng passing and repassing, could see also the traffic in Park Lane on either side. London, from this point of sight, wore a cheerful, friendly air. The dim sunshine, the white-clouded sky, the touches of reviving green and flowers, the soft air blowing in from a farther window which was open, brought with them impressions of spring, of promise, and rebirth, which insensibly affected Lady Tranmore. "Well, I wonder what William will do, this time, in Parliament!" she said, as she dropped again into her seat by the fire and began to cut the pages of a new book. "He is sure to do extremely well," said Miss Lyster. Lady Tranmore shrugged her shoulders. "My dear--do you know that William has been for eight years--since he left Trinity--one of the idlest young men alive?" "He had one brief!" "Yes--somewhere in the country, where all the juniors get one in turn," said Lady Tranmore. "That was the year he was so keen and went on circuit, and never missed a sessions. Next year nothing would induce him to stir out of town. What has he done with himself all these eight years? I can't imagine." "He has grown--uncommonly handsome," said Mary Lyster, with a momentary hesitation as she threaded her needle afresh. "I never remember him anything else," said Lady Tranmore. "All the artists who came here and to Narroways wanted to paint him. I used to think it would make him a spoiled little ape. But nothing spoiled him." Miss Lyster smiled. "You know, Cousin Elizabeth--and you may as well confess it at once!--that you think him the ablest, handsomest, and charmingest of men!" "Of course I do," said Lady Tranmore, calmly. "I am certain, moreover--now--that he will be Prime Minister. And as for idleness, that, of course, is only a _façon de parler_. He has worked hard enough at the things which please him." "There--you see!" said Mary Lyster, laughing. "Not politics, anyway," said the elder lady, reflectively. "He went into the House to please me, because I was a fool and wanted to see him there. But I must say when his constituents turned him out last year I thought they would have been a mean-spirited set if they hadn't. They knew very well he'd never done a stroke for them. Attendances--divisions--perfectly scandalous!" "Well, here he is, in triumphantly for somewhere else--with all sorts of delightful prospects!" Lady Tranmore sighed. Her white fingers paused in their task.