in its refurbished condition: it had two pretty inlaid
cabinets, great china vases with contents that sent forth odours of paradise,
groups of flowers in oval frames on the walls, and Mrs Transome's own portrait
in the evening costume of 1800, with a garden in the background. That brilliant
young woman looked smilingly down on Mr Jermyn as he passed in front of the
fire; and at present hers was the only gaze in the room. He could not help
meeting the gaze as he waited, holding his hat behind him - could not help
seeing many memories lit up by it; but the strong bent of his mind was to go on
arguing each memory into a claim, and to see in the regard others had for him a
merit of his own. There had been plenty of roads open to him when he was a young
man; perhaps if he had not allowed himself to be determined (chiefly, of course,
by the feelings of others, for of what effect would his own feelings have been
without them?) into the road he actually took, he might have done better for
himself. At any rate, he was likely at last to get the worst of it, and it was
he who had most reason to complain. The fortunate Jason, as we know from
Euripides, piously thanked the goddess, and saw clearly that he was not at all
obliged to Medea: Jermyn was perhaps not aware of the precedent, but thought out
his own freedom from obligation and the indebtedness of others towards him with
a native faculty not inferior to Jason's.
    Before three minutes had passed, however, as if by some sorcery, the
brilliant smiling young woman above the mantel-piece seemed to be appearing at
the doorway withered and frosted by many winters, and with lips and eyes from
which the smile had departed. Jermyn advanced, and they shook hands, but neither
of them said anything by way of greeting. Mrs Transome seated herself, and
pointed to a chair opposite and near her.
    »Harold has gone to Loamford,« she said, in a subdued tone. »You had
something particular to say to me?«
    »Yes,« said Jermyn, with his soft and deferential air. »The last time I was
here I could not take the opportunity of speaking to you. But I am anxious to
know whether you are aware of what has passed between me and Harold?«
    »Yes, he has told me everything.«
    »About his proceedings against me? and the reason he stopped them?«
    »Yes: have you had notice