Two weeks later he accompanied his mother and sisters to England. Before his departure he learned that Marian had been seriously ill, but was convalescent, and that her father had returned.
Meantime and during the voyage, with the differences natural to the relation of mother and son, his manner was so like that of his father towards her that she was continually reminded of the past, and was almost led to fear that she had made a grave error in the act she had deemed so essential. But her pride and her hopes for the future prevented all concession.
"When he is once more in society abroad this freak will pass away," she thought, "and some English beauty will console him."
But after they were well established in a pretty villa near congenial acquaintances, Merwyn said one morning, "I shall return to New York next week."
"Willard! how can you think of such a thing? I was planning to spend the latter part of the winter in Rome."
"That you may easily do with your knowledge of the city and your wide circle of friends."
"But we need you. We want you to be with us, and I think it most unnatural in you to leave us alone."
"I have taken no oath to dawdle around Europe indefinitely. I propose to return to New York and go into business."
"You have enough and more than enough already."
"I certainly have had enough of idleness."