But the good-natured evenness of his happy
temperament was quite gone. Elizabeth, too, had little cares and
hospitable duties; she was often busy and often pre-occupied. It was
necessary to have a great deal of company, and Richard perceived that
among the usual visitors at Hallam he had more than one rival. But
in this respect he had no fault to find with Elizabeth. She treated
all with equal regard and to Richard alone unbent the proud sufficiency
of her manner. And yet he was unhappy and dissatisfied. It was not
the Elizabeth he had wooed and dreamed about. And he did not find that
he reached any more satisfactory results than he had done by letter.
Elizabeth could not "see her way clear to leave her father."
"If Antony married?" he asked.
"That would not alter affairs much. Antony could not live at Hallam.
His business binds him to the vicinity of London."
There was but one new hope, and that was but a far probability. Antony
had requested permission to repay, as soon as he was able, the L50,000,
and resume his right as heir of Hallam. When he was able to do this
Elizabeth would be freed from the duties which specially pertained
to the property. As to her father's claim upon her, that could only
end with his or her own life. Not even if Antony's wife was mistress
of Hallam would she leave the squire, if he wished or needed her love.
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