Mr Farquharson was to retain his seat until the early spring, for the double purpose of maintaining his influence upon an important commission of which he was chairman until the work should be done, and of giving the imperial departure championed by his successor as good a chance as possible of becoming understood in the constituency.

It was understood that the new writ would issue for a date in March; Elgin referred all interest to that point, and prophesied for itself a lively winter.
Another event, of importance less general, was arranged for the end of February--the arrival of Miss Cameron and Mrs Kilbannon from Scotland.
Finlay had proposed an earlier date, but matters of business connected with her mother's estate would delay Miss Cameron's departure.

Her arrival would be the decisive point of another campaign.

He and Advena faced it without misgiving, but there were moments when Finlay greatly wished the moment past.
Their intimacy had never been conspicuous, and their determination to make no change in it could be carried out without attracting attention.
It was very dear to them, that determination.

They saw it as a test, as an ideal.