And even then they merely went as far as sentinels to warn or encourage her in the progress of her aims, never wasting themselves upon irrelevant objects.
When her scented presence had left the room, John Derringham clasped his hands behind his head, and, before he was aware of it, his lips had murmured "Thank God!" And then Nemesis fell upon him--his schoolboy sensation of recreation-time at hand left him, and a blank sense of failure and hopeless bondage took its place.
Surely he had bartered his soul for a very inadequate mess of pottage.
And where would he sink to under this scorpion whip?
Where would go all his fine aspirations which, even in spite of all the juggling of political life, still lived in his aims.

Halcyone would have understood.
"Oh! my love!" he cried.

"My tender love!" Then that part of him which was strong reasserted itself.

He would not give way to this repining, the thing was done and he must make the best of it.

He asked for some volumes from the library.