"I saw them, too," said Mrs. March; "they looked quite adorable. Did Sir Percy ask for me or send me any message?" Senator March tried to recall. "I really can’t remember anything special. Both of them were most cordial, and Lady Carlyon particularly said she hoped to see us very soon." Mrs. March smiled. "Sir Percy has forgotten, perhaps," she said softly after a moment, "his first six months in India." "Oh, I think not! He told me during our first acquaintance all about that and the enormous obligations he was under to your father. We must call and see the Carlyons very soon, and have them here to dinner." Then Alicia suddenly changed the subject, and began to ask him about his day’s work. "There is a tremendous amount of work on hand for the committee, as there is a great mass of information to be mastered before one can treat intelligently this whole railway subject, for instance." Then Senator March went on to describe the pitfalls and obstacles in the way of certain intended legislation concerning railways. His wife listened with the deepest attention, occasionally putting in an intelligent question. Presently the Senator said: "I believe you know as much about the matter as I do. You should be an interstate commerce commissioner." Alicia smiled, she rarely laughed. "That is the way with Englishwomen: we accommodate ourselves to our husbands instead of requiring them to mould themselves to us." "It is a very pleasant way," replied Senator March gallantly, and then, being full of his subject, he went on talking about it until, suddenly recalling himself, he said: "You have not been for your drive and it is already growing dark. I can’t go with you to-day; I have a lot more of this business on hand in my study." "I don’t think I shall drive this afternoon," replied Mrs. March. "I think I shall walk for half-an-hour. You wish to be undisturbed until dinner?" "Yes," said Senator March, going into his own quarters.