IV

Lord Windlesham sat under the cedar¹ tree. His eyes rested on the graceful² proportions of WodeHall. There was nothing to mar³ its old-world beauty; the new buildings and additions were out ofsight round the corner. It was a fair and peaceful sight bathed in the autumn sunshine.

Nevertheless, as he gazed, it was no longer Wode Hall that Charles Windlesham saw. Instead, heseemed to see a more imposing⁴ Elizabethan mansion⁵, a long sweep of park, a more bleakbackground…It was his own family seat, Charltonbury, and in the foreground stood a figure—agirl’s figure, with bright golden hair and an eager confident face… Linnet as mistress ofCharltonbury!

He felt very hopeful. That refusal of hers had not been at all a definite refusal. It had been littlemore than a plea for time. Well, he could afford to wait a little….

How amazingly suitable the whole thing was! It was certainly advisable that he should marrymoney, but not such a matter of necessity that he could regard himself as forced to put his ownfeelings on one side. And he loved Linnet. He would have wanted to marry her even if she hadbeen practically penniless, instead of one of the richest girls in England. Only, fortunately, she wasone of the richest girls in England….

His mind played with attractive plans for the future. The Mastership of the Roxdale perhaps, therestoration of the west wing, no need to let the Scotch⁶ shooting….

Charles Windlesham dreamed in the sun.

 

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