"And you go . . . whither?" she asked.
"Oh! what matter?" he replied carelessly, "so long as I no longer trouble your ladyship with my presence."
"Then you will have no objection if I return to my father until your future plans are more mature?"
"Objection?" he said with a pleasant little laugh. "Nay, Madame, you are pleased to joke."
She felt a little bewildered: this unexpected move on his part had somehow thrown all her plans out of gear. For the moment she scarcely had time to conjecture, even vaguely, what her own future actions would be if her husband no longer chose to hold an important position in the Ministry. The thought that his resignation would of necessity mean her own, suddenly rushed into her mind with overwhelming violence, but she was too confused at present to disentangle herself from the maze of conflicting emotions which assailed her, when first she realized the unexpected possibility.
She was toying with the seal, forgetful somehow of the purpose and the plans which it represented. These not being in jeopardy through milor's extraordinary conduct, she could afford to dismiss them from her mind.
It was the idea of her husband's resignation and her own future which troubled her, and strangely enough there was such an air of finality about his attitude that, for the moment, she was somewhat at a loss how to choose a line of argument with which to influence him. That she could make him alter his decision she never doubted for a moment, but since the first day of their married life he had never taken any initiative in an important matter, and his doing so at this moment found her at first wholly unprepared.
"Am I to understand that my wishes in so vital a decision are not to be consulted in any way?" she asked after a momentary pause.
"You will honour me, Madame, by making me acquainted with them," he replied.
"You must reconsider your resignation," she said decisively.