"Does he know where it comes from and where it's going to?
And can he choose?
And has he the touch?
And hasn't he been too long a Royal Academician and a member of the Church of England, and a believer in himself?
Oh no! Framley hasn't anything to tell this generation that he couldn't say best on canvas." "Well," said Lady Halifax disconcertingly, "I suppose the carriage is at the door, Lawrence, but you might just send to inquire.

The horses stand so badly, I told Peters he might take them round and round the square." Cardiff looked at her with amused reproach, and rang the bell; and Janet begged somebody or anybody to have another cup of tea.

The Halifaxes always tried Janet.
They went at last, entreating Cardiff, to his annoyance, not to come down the narrow winding stair with them to their carriage.

To him no amount of familiar coming and going could excuse the most trivial of such negligences.
He very often put Janet into her cab, always if it rained.
The moment they left the room a new atmosphere created itself there for the two that remained.

They sought each other's eyes with the pleasantest sense of being together in reality for the first time, and though Janet marked it by nothing more significant than a suggestion that Kendal should poke the fire, there was an appreciable admission in her tone that they were alone and free to talk, which he recognized with great good-will.