Your position demands that she should become a private lady.' Wilfrid knew well that the question could not be argued, and, in his secret mind, there was just a little tendency to take his father's view.
He would never have allowed this shade of thought to appear in his speech; but was he not an Englishman and a member of Parliament?
This which had come about was inevitable.

After his departure from Dunfield on that winter day, when his life seemed crushed, he had for a long time not even sought to hear of Emily.

He did not write to Mrs.
Baxendale, and from her had no letters.

Correspondence between them only recommenced some ten months later, when Wilfrid had finally left Oxford, and then there was no mention on either side of the old troubles.
Wilfrid began by writing that he had thoughts of taking up politics; his father advised him to the step, and other friends seconded the recommendation.

'I really believe I can talk,' he said, and Mrs.
Baxendale smiled at the confession.