It is not exactly usual, I believe, for young married ladies to visit men in their rooms; if I have misunderstood the social rules in this matter, you will of course correct me.' Mr.Dalmaine was to the core a politician.

He was fond of Paula in a way, but he had discovered since his marriage that she had a certain individuality very distinct from his own, and till this was crushed he could not be satisfied.

It was his home policy, at present, to crush Paula's will.

He practised upon her the faculties which he would have liked to use in terrorising a people.

Since she had given up talking politics, her drawing-room had been full of people whom Dalmaine regarded with contempt--mere butterflies of the season.