Augustus Robb wanted to laugh again, but there was no excuse. So he leant over his saddle and grasped Mr Blake's hand silently. The apparent friendliness of the act was not lost upon the lord of the manor.
'Augustus,' he said presently, 'I believe I am a little low both in spirits and physique. I shouldn't really mind going to Norway for a month or two, now that Mrs Blake is well and strong again; but without a companion I should feel lonely and bored.'
His nephew did not reply. He knew better.
'Come, Gustus, we'll go together.'
'Oh, that would be very delightful!'
'And, mind, you must promise me this: you will stand for S—— at next election, in the Conservative interest, and, my good boy, I'll use all my interest to have you returned.'
An extract from a letter of Aggie's to her brother soon after this throws some light on Antony's intended marriage.
'I did, dear brother,' it ran, 'as you told me, and placed the letter in my boudoir desk, leaving the keys in it, and as I expected there was a mysterious disappearance. But I did firmly believe that father would see it was all fun. But he has taken it in earnest, and so has our beautiful cousin Gustie. He had the impudence to tell me the other day that when he was member for S—— he meant to enter London society in earnest, and have a large house, and that his establishment would be quite incomplete without a mistress.
'I know what he meant. And now, Frank, they are both off to Norway, and I sincerely hope father will return alone. The lakes in Norway are very deep, Frank, and the cliffs are very high.'