Theweddingwentby,asgrandweddingsdo,withoutletorhindrance,accordingtotheapprovedpattern.ACabinetministerhonoureditwithhispresence,and,beingadistantrelationoftheBrabants,remainedforafewdaysafterthegrandoccasion.DuringthistimehebecameratherintimatewithRalphCorbet;manyoftheirtasteswereincommon.Ralphtookagreatinterestinthemannerofworkingoutpoliticalquestions;inthebalanceandstateofparties;andhadtherightappreciationoftheexactqualitiesonwhichtheministerpiquedhimself.Inreturn,thelatterwasalwaysonthelook-outforpromisingyoungmen,who,eitherbytheircapabilityofspeech-makingorarticle-writing,mightadvancetheviewsofhisparty.
RecognisingthepowershemostvaluedinRalph,hesparednopainstoattachhimtohisownpoliticalset.Whentheyseparated,itwaswiththefullunderstandingthattheyweretoseeagooddealofeachotherinLondon.
TheholidayRalphallowedhimselfwaspassingrapidlyaway;but,beforehereturnedtohischambersandhishardwork,hehadpromisedtospendafewmoredayswithEllinor;anditsuitedhimtogostraightfromtheduke\'stoFordBank.Heleftthecastlesoonafterbreakfast——theluxurious,elegantbreakfast,servedbydomesticswhoperformedtheirworkwiththeaccuracyandperfectionofmachines.
HearrivedatFordBankbeforetheman-servanthadquitefinishedthedirtierpartofhismorning\'swork,andhecametotheglass-doorinhisstripedcottonjacket,alittlesoiled,androllinguphisworkingapron.Ellinorwasnotyetstrongenoughtogetupandgooutandgatherflowersfortherooms,sothoseleftfromyesterdaywereratherfaded;inshort,thecontrastfromentirecompletenessandexquisitefreshnessofarrangementstruckforciblyuponRalph\'sperceptions,whichwerecriticalratherthanappreciative;and,ashisaffectionswerealwayssubduedtohisintellect,Ellinor\'slovelyfaceandgracefulfigureflyingtomeethimdidnotgainhisfullapproval,becauseherhairwasdressedinanold-fashionedway,herwaistwaseithertoolongortooshort,hersleevestoofullortootightforthestandardoffashiontowhichhiseyehadbeenaccustomedwhilescanningthebridesmaidsandvarioushighbornladiesatStokelyCastle.
But,ashehadalwayspiquedhimselfuponbeingabletoputononesideallsuperficialworldlinessinhischaseafterpower,itdidnotdoforhimtoshrinkfromseeingandfacingtheincompletenessofmoderatemeans.Onlymarriageuponmoderatemeanswasgraduallybecomingmoredistastefultohim.