It was understood that the new writ would issue for a
date in March; Elgin referred all interest to that point,
and prophesied for itself a lively winter. Another event,
of importance less general, was arranged for the end of
February--the arrival of Miss Cameron and Mrs Kilbannon
from Scotland. Finlay had proposed an earlier date, but
matters of business connected with her mother's estate
would delay Miss Cameron's departure. Her arrival would
be the decisive point of another campaign. He and Advena
faced it without misgiving, but there were moments when
Finlay greatly wished the moment past.
Their intimacy had never been conspicuous, and their
determination to make no change in it could be carried
out without attracting attention. It was very dear to
them, that determination. They saw it as a test, as an
ideal. Last of all, perhaps, as an alleviation. They were
both too much encumbered with ideas to move simply,
quickly, on the impulse of passion. They looked at it
through the wrong end of the glass, and thought they put
it farther away. They believed that their relation
comprised, would always comprise, the best of life. It
was matter for discussion singularly attractive; they
allowed themselves upon it wide scope in theory. They
could speak of it in the heroic temper, without sadness
or bitterness; the thing was to tear away the veil and
look fate in the face.
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