At the present moment I believe that he would have preferred to have remained living his hermit's life, a writer and a dilettante, if circumstances had not dragged him into politics.

He lives in the simplest way and hates all society save the company of a few old cronies." "What does Dartrey want with me ?" Tallente interrupted, a little brusquely.

"It is no part of my mission to explain," Miller replied.
"I undertook to come here and beg you to return at once." Tallente turned to Lady Jane.

"You will forgive me ?" he begged.

"In any case, I must have been going in a few minutes." "I should forgive you even if you went without saying good-by," she replied, "and I can assure you that I shall envy you.