And then perhaps there occurred to him an idea that all this should not have been done without a word of consent from himself.

Had she come to him with some scheme for changing everything about the place, making him think that the alterations were a matter of taste or of mere personal pleasure, he would probably have given his assent at once, thinking nothing of the money.

But all this was sheer display.

Then he walked up and saw the flag waving over the Castle, indicating that he, the Lord Lieutenant of the County, was present there on his own soil.

That was right.
That was as it should be, because the flag was waving in compliance with an acknowledged ordinance.