Again there was silence. Wenderby found it difficult to come to the point. It was again Lady Mary who spoke.
"Have you come to me for advice?" she asked.
"Partly that."
"Then I advise you to follow your conscience," she said decisively.
"That is just the difficulty," he pleaded. "My conscience is vague."
"It tells you to come over."
Wenderby smiled. "Naturally you say that. My desertion now would shake the Government. Perhaps we might even pull them down. There's a chance."
"Your duty is clear," she insisted.
"I do not think so," he objected. "The Government may stand in spite of me. Then my moderating influence is destroyed. Is it my duty to put this uncertain thing to the proof?"