A philosopher and economist, holding on to Helena's skirts in her rush through the world, would cut too sorry a figure.

Besides, could she ever have married him--which was of course impossible, in spite of the courses in Meredith and Modern Literature through which he had taken her--she would have tired of him in a year, by which time both their fortunes would have been spent.

For he knew himself to be a spendthrift on a small income, and suspected a similar propensity in Helena, on the grand scale.

He returned, therefore, more or less contentedly, to his musings upon an article he was to contribute to _The Market Place_, on "The Influence of Temperament in Economics." The sounds of dance music in the distance made an agreeable accompaniment.
Meanwhile a scene--indisputably sentimental--was passing on the lake.
Helena and Geoffrey French going down to the water's edge to find a boat, had met halfway with Cynthia Welwyn, in some distress.

She had just heard that Lady Georgina had been taken suddenly ill, and must go home.