And during the past few weeks the exhilaration and interest of the general position--considering all things--had been very great.

Not only was he on the point of ousting the Maxwell candidate from a seat which he had held securely for years--Wharton was perfectly well aware by now that he was trespassing on Aldous Raeburn's preserves in ways far more important, and infinitely more irritating! He and Raeburn had not met often at Mellor during these weeks of fight.

Each had been too busy.

But whenever they had come across each other Wharton had clearly perceived that his presence in the house, his growing intimacy with Marcella Boyce, the free-masonry of opinion between them, the interest she took in his contest, the village friendships they had in common, were all intensely galling to Aldous Raeburn.
The course of events, indeed, had lately produced in Wharton a certain excitement--recklessness even.

He had come down into these parts to court "the joy of eventful living"-- politically and personally.