When he became master of Rivenoak, and gave up his London house, Arabella wished him to destroy all his sculpture, that no evidence might remain of the relations which had at first existed between them, no visible relic of the time which she refused to remember.

Sir Quentin pleaded against this condemnation, and obtained a compromise.

The fine bust, and a few other of his best things, were to be transferred to Rivenoak, and there kept under lock and key.

Often had the baronet felt that he would like to look at the achievements of his hopeful time, but he never summoned courage to mount to the attic.

His years went by in a mouldering inactivity.