Lord Cadurcis looked very mournful, and shook his head.

’As for her dear mother, she is habituated to sorrow and disappointment,’ said Masham.  ’As long as Venetia lives Lady Annabel will be content.  Besides, deplorable as may be the past, there must be solace to her in the reflection that she was reconciled to her husband before his death, and contributed to his happiness.  Venetia is the stricken lamb, but Venetia is formed for happiness, and it is in the nature of things that she will be happy.  We must not, however, yield unnecessarily to our feelings.  A violent exertion would be unwise, but we should habituate ourselves gradually to the exercise of our duties, and to our accustomed pursuits.  It would be well for you to go to Cadurcis.  If I were you I would go to-morrow.  Take advantage of my presence, and return and give a report of your visit.  Habituate Venetia to talk of a spot with which ultimately she must renew her intimacy.’

Influenced by this advice, Lord Cadurcis rose early on the next morning and repaired to the seat of his fathers, where hitherto his foot had never trod.  When the circle at Cherbury assembled at their breakfast table he was missing, and Masham had undertaken the office of apprising his friends of the cause of his absence.  He returned to dinner, and the conversation fell naturally upon the abbey, and the impressions he had received.  It was maintained at first by Lady Annabel and the Bishop, but Venetia ultimately joined in it, and with cheerfulness.  Many a trait and incident of former days was alluded to; they talked of Mrs. Cadurcis, whom George had never seen; they settled the chambers he should inhabit; they mentioned the improvements which Plantagenet had once contemplated, and which George must now accomplish.

‘You must go to London first,’ said the Bishop; ’you have a great deal to do, and you should not delay such business.  I think you had better return with me.  At this time of the year you need not be long absent; you will not be detained; and when you return, you will find yourself much more at ease; for, after all, nothing is more harassing than the feeling, that there is business which must be attended to, and which, nevertheless, is neglected.’

Both Lady Annabel and Venetia enforced this advice of their friend; and so it happened that, ere a week had elapsed, Lord Cadurcis, accompanying Masham, found himself once more in London.

CHAPTER IV.

Venetia was now once more alone with her mother; it was as in old times.  Their life was the same as before the visit of Plantagenet previous to his going to Cambridge, except indeed that they had no longer a friend at Marringhurst.  They missed the Sabbath visits of that good man; for, though his successor performed the duties of the day, which had been a condition when he was presented to the living, the friend who knew all the secrets of their hearts was