CHAPTER XVI.
For a week after Lady Ogram's return, Dr.Baldwin called daily at Rivenoak.

His patient, he said, was suffering from over-exertion; had she listened to his advice, she would never have gone to London; the marvel was that such an imprudence had had no worse results.

Lady Ogram herself of course refused to take this view of the matter; she was perfectly well, only a little tired, and, as the hot nights interfered with her sleep just now, she rested during the greater part of the day, seeing Lashmar for half an hour each afternoon in the little drawing-room upstairs.

Her friendliness with Dyce had much increased; when he entered the room, she greeted him almost affectionately, and their talk was always of his brilliant future.
"I want to see you safely in Parliament," she said one day.

"I can't expect to live till you've made your name; that isn't done so quickly.
But I shall see you squash Robb, and that's something." Of his success at Hollingford she seemed never to entertain a doubt, and Lashmar, though by no means so sanguine, said nothing to discourage her.