He had now definitely made up his mind to propose to Cecilia Cricklander, and was only awaiting a suitable occasion to put this intention into effect.
Numbers of moments had come--and passed--but he was always able to find good and sufficient fault with them.

And once or twice, when Fate itself seemed to arrange things for him, he had a sudden sensation as of a swimmer fighting with the tide, and he had battled to the shore again, and was still free! But it must come, of course, and before he left for London at the end of the week.

Private news had reached him that the Government must soon go out, and he felt this thing must be an accomplished fact before then, for the hand he meant to play.
But meanwhile it was only Tuesday, and he was nearing the battered and nail-bestudded front door of La Sarthe Chase.

William said the ladies were at home, and he was shown into the Italian parlor forthwith.
It had not changed in the slightest degree in the seven years since he had seen it first, nor had the two ancient spinsters themselves.

They were most graciously glad to receive him, and gave him tea out of the thinnest china cups, and at last Miss Roberta said: "Our great-niece Halcyone will be coming down in a moment, Mr.
Derringham.