He interrupted her.
"If I can be both Kitty's husband and a public man, well and good. If not, then I shall be—"
"Kitty's husband?" cried Lady Tranmore, with an accent of bitterness, almost of sarcasm, of which she instantly repented her. She changed her tone.
"It is, of course, Kitty, first and foremost, who is concerned in your public position," she said, more gently. "Dearest William—she is so young still—she probably doesn't quite understand, in spite of her great cleverness. But she does care—she must care—and she ought to know what slight things may sometimes affect a man's prospects and future in this country."
Ashe said nothing. He turned on his heel and resumed his pacing. Lady Tranmore looked at him in perplexity.
"William, I heard a rumor last night—"
He held his cigarette suspended.
"Lord Crashaw told me that the resignations would certainly be in the papers this week, and that the ministry would go on—after a rearrangement of posts. Is it true?"
Ashe resumed his cigarette.
"True—as to the facts—so far as I know. As to the date, Lord Crashaw knows, I think, no more than I do. It may be this week, it may be next month."