"Exactly. 'Yet!' The 'grand passion' has not yet touched you, my dear,and you are quite self-absorbed."
"Self-absorbed! Those are hard words."
"But not too hard for the case. You think solely of yourself, your ownpleasure, your own character, your own feelings. If you could castyourself into the background a little, you would be less excitable andconsiderably less discontented."
"How dare you, Tracy! Pray, what of you? Are you so selfless?"
"Not at all. I am precisely the same. I was merely suggesting that youmight be happier an you could depose 'self.'"
"You had best do the same yourself!"
"My dear Lavinia, when I feel the need of greater happiness, I mostundoubtedly shall. At present I am quite content."
"You are unkind!" she protested. "And you sneer at me."
"Pray, accept my heartfelt apologies! You shall come to Andover if theworthy Richard permits."
Her face cleared as by magic.
"Oh, Tracy! Oh, I am so desirous to be gay once more! I cannot evenreceive now, on account of this mourning! But when I am at Andover--oh,we will not worry over anything, and I can be bad-tempered withoutfeeling that someone is being hurt by me! Oh, come to Dicky at once--atonce!"
He rose leisurely.
"I can imagine that you try Richard's patience somewhat," he remarked."Happily, your impetuosity in no way disturbs me. We will go in searchof Richard."
Half-way down the great staircase she perceived her husband, and flew tomeet him.
"Richard, I was coming in search of you! Tracy has invited me to Andoverfor a week--he purposes to ask several people to stay, and there will beparties--and entertainment! You will let me go? Say yes, Dicky--say yes,quickly!"
Carstares bowed to his Grace, who stood watching them from the stairs.The bow was returned with exaggerated flourish. Carstares looked down athis wife.
"So soon, Lavinia?" he remonstrated, and indicated her mourning. Sheshook his hand off impatiently.
"Oh, Dicky, does it matter? What can it signify? I do not ask you tocome--"
"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 togo--ah, but yes, yes, you must listen! You know how dull I am, and howsilly--'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 Icannot 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 youquietly to Bath, or where you will. Do not pain me by going to Andoverjust now."
"Bath! Bath! What do I want with Bath at this time of the year? Oh, 'tiskind in you to offer, but I want to go to Andover! I want to see all theold friends again. And I want to get away from everything here--'tis allso gloomy--after--after my lord's death!"
"Dearest, of course you shall go away--but if only you would rememberthat you are in mourning--"
"But 'tis what I wish to forget! Oh, Dicky, don't, don't, don't beunkind."
"Very well, dear. If you must go--go."
She clapped her hands joyfully.