The suggestion as to the ultimate and desirable haven was wrapped up in ambiguous words.
"The property must be yours some day," suggested Lady Chiltern.
"If I outlive my father." "We take that for granted; and then, you know--" So Lady Chiltern went on, dilating upon a future state of squirearchal bliss and rural independence.

Adelaide was enthusiastic; but Gerard Maule,--after he had assented to the abandonment of his hunting, much as a man assents to being hung when the antecedents of his life have put any option in the matter out of his power,--had sat silent and almost moody while the joys of his coming life were described to him.

Lady Chiltern, however, had been urgent in pointing out to him that the scheme of living at Maule Abbey could not be carried on without his father's assistance.

They all knew that Mr.
Maule himself could not be affected by the matter, and they also knew that he had but very little power in reference to the property.
But the plan could not be matured without some sanction from him.
Therefore there was still much more to be said when the father had completed the exposition of his views on marriage in general.

"I wanted to speak to you about the property," said Gerard.