'I do not require to be forced to think of Beverley,' said she, with tender sadness.
'Pardon me, I did not mean that,' said he.
'I know; but that which seems to haunt me at times may exist; the world is full of mystery, and so is all nature. We know not how even a seed takes root, or a blade of grass springs from the earth.'
'Ida, this is the cant of the spiritualists!' urged Trevor Chute; 'do not adopt it. What would Sir Carnaby think of such a theme?'
She slightly shrugged her shoulders, and with a little laugh said:
'Papa's views of life are very different from mine, and his ideas of the superiority of mind over matter must be vague, if, indeed, he has any views on the subject at all. Do you go to the Continent alone?'
'No, Jerry Vane proposes to accompany me.'
'Also leaving London in the height of the season!'
'His reasons are nearly the same as mine,' replied Chute. 'Have you any message to him?'
'None,' said she, colouring and looking down.