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with me； and I may have to content myself with penurious political
bachelorhood。 Anyhow； the present is still with us。 We dine at
Kettner's to…night； don't we？〃
〃Rather；〃 said Molly； 〃though it will be more or less a throat…
lumpy feast as far as I am concerned。 We shall have to drink to
the health of the future Mrs。 Youghal。 By the way； it's rather
characteristic of you that you haven't told me who she is； and of
me that I haven't asked。 And now； like a dear boy； trot away and
leave me。 I haven't got to say good…bye to you yet； but I'm going
to take a quiet farewell of the Pheasantry。 We've had some jolly
good talks； you and I； sitting on this seat； haven't we？ And I
know； as well as I know anything； that this is the last of them。
Eight o'clock to…night； as punctually as possible。〃
She watched his retreating figure with eyes that grew slowly misty；
he had been such a jolly comely boy…friend； and they had had such
good times together。 The mist deepened on her lashes as she looked
round at the familiar rendezvous where they had so often kept tryst
since the day when they had first come there together； he a
schoolboy and she but lately out of her teens。 For the moment she
felt herself in the thrall of a very real sorrow。
Then； with the admirable energy of one who is only in town for a
fleeting fortnight； she raced away to have tea with a world…faring
naval admirer at his club。 Pluralism is a merciful narcotic。
CHAPTER VI
ELAINE DE FREY sat at ease … at bodily ease … at any rate … in a
low wicker chair placed under the shade of a group of cedars in the
heart of a stately spacious garden that had almost made up its mind
to be a park。 The shallow stone basin of an old fountain； on whose
wide ledge a leaden…moulded otter for ever preyed on a leaden
salmon； filled a conspicuous place in the immediate foreground。
Around its rim ran an inscription in Latin； warning mortal man that
time flows as swiftly as water and exhorting him to make the most
of his hours； after which piece of Jacobean moralising it set
itself shamelessly to beguile all who might pass that way into an
abandonment of contemplative repose。 On all sides of it a stretch
of smooth turf spread away； broken up here and there by groups of
dwarfish chestnut and mulberry trees； whose leaves and branches
cast a laced pattern of shade beneath them。 On one side the lawn
sloped gently down to a small lake； whereon floated a quartette of
swans； their movements suggestive of a certain mournful
listlessness； as though a weary dignity of caste held them back
from the joyous bustling life of the lesser waterfowl。 Elaine
liked to imagine that they re…embodied the souls of unhappy boys
who had been forced by family interests to become high
ecclesiastical dignitaries and had grown prematurely Right
Reverend。 A low stone balustrade fenced part of the shore of the
lake； making a miniature terrace above its level； and here roses
grew in a rich multitude。 Other rose bushes； carefully pruned and
tended； formed little oases of colour and perfume amid the restful
green of the sward； and in the distance the eye caught the
variegated blaze of a many…hued hedge of rhododendron。 With these
favoured exceptions flowers were hard to find in this well…ordered
garden； the misguided tyranny of staring geranium beds and be…
flowered archways leading to nowhere； so dear to the suburban
gardener； found no expression here。 Magnificent Amherst pheasants；
whose plumage challenged and almost shamed the peacock on his own
ground； stepped to and fro over the emerald turf with the assured
self…conscious pride of reigning sultans。 It was a garden where
summer seemed a part…proprietor rather than a hurried visitor。
By the side of Elaine's chair under the shadow of the cedars a
wicker table was set out with the paraphernalia of afternoon tea。
On some cushions at her feet reclined Courtenay Youghal； smoothly
preened and youthfully elegant； the personification of decorative
repose； equally decorative； but with the showy restlessness of a
dragonfly； Comus disported his flannelled person over a
considerable span of the available foreground。
The intimacy existing between the two young men had suffered no
immediate dislocation from the circumstance that they were tacitly
paying court to the same lady。 It was an intimacy founded not in
the least on friendship or community of tastes and ideas； but owed
its existence to the fact that each was amused and interested by
the other。 Youghal found Comus； for the time being at any rate；
just as amusing and interesting as a rival for Elaine's favour as
he had been in the ROLE of scapegrace boy…about…Town； Comus for his
part did not wish to lose touch with Youghal； who among other
attractions possessed the recommendation of being under the ban of
Comus's mother。 She disapproved； it is true； of a great many of
her son's friends and associates； but this particular one was a
special and persistent source of irritation to her from the fact
that he figured prominently and more or less successfully in the
public life of the day。 There was something peculiarly
exasperating in reading a brilliant and incisive attack on the
Government's rash handling of public expenditure delivered by a
young man who encouraged her son in every imaginable extravagance。
The actual extent of Youghal's influence over the boy was of the
slightest； Comus was quite capable of deriving encouragement to
rash outlay and frivolous conversation from an anchorite or an
East…end parson if he had been thrown into close companionship with
such an individual。 Francesca； however； exercised a mother's
privilege in assuming her son's bachelor associates to be
industrious in labouring to achieve his undoing。 Therefore the
young politician was a source of unconcealed annoyance to her； and
in the same degree as she expressed her disapproval of him Comus
was careful to maintain and parade the intimacy。 Its existence； or
rather its continued existence； was one of the things that faintly
puzzled the young lady whose sought…for favour might have been
expected to furnish an occasion for its rapid dissolution。
With two suitors； one of whom at least she found markedly
attractive； courting her at the same moment； Elaine should have had
reasonable cause for being on good terms with the world； and with
herself in particular。 Happiness was not； however； at this
auspicious moment； her dominant mood。 The grave calm of her face
masked as usual a certain degree of grave perturbation。 A
succession of well…meaning governesses and a plentiful supply of
moralising aunts on both sides of her family； had impressed on her
young mind the theoretical fact that wealth is a great
responsibility。 The consciousness of her responsibility set her
continually wondering； no