She knew that by last night's affair she had definitely identified herself in public opinion with the Shalem clique, and that many of her old friends would look on her with distrust and suspicion on that account.

It was unfortunate, but she reckoned it a lesser evil than tearing herself away from her London life, its successes and pleasures and possibilities.

These social dislocations and severing of friendships were to be looked for after any great and violent change in State affairs.

It was Yeovil's attitude that really troubled her; she would not give way to his prejudices and accept his point of view, but she knew that a victory that involved estrangement from him would only bring a mockery of happiness.

She still hoped that he would come round to an acceptance of established facts and deaden his political malaise in the absorbing distraction of field sports.