She stayed over the week-end; and on the Saturday, at her suggestion,
they took a long excursion into the country. It was the first time she
had ever asked him to take her out. He came down to breakfast in a new
suit, and was quite excited. In the car his hand had sought hers shyly,
and, feeling her responsive pressure, he had continued to hold it; and
they had sat for a long time in silence. She decided not to tell him
about Phillips, just yet. He knew of him only from the Tory newspapers
and would form a wrong idea. She would bring them together and leave
Phillips to make his own way. He would like Phillips when he knew him,
she felt sure. He, too, was a people's man. The torch passed down to
him from his old Ironside ancestors, it still glowed. More than once she
had seen it leap to flame. In congenial atmosphere, it would burn clear
and steadfast. It occurred to her what a delightful solution of her
problem, if later on her father could be persuaded to leave Arthur in
charge of the works, and come to live with her in London. There was a
fine block of flats near Chelsea Church with long views up and down the
river.
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