So this question about what he had done reawakened my old interest
in the life I had put aside just for a moment.
"'I have taken no heed of any news for many days,' I said. 'What
has Evesham been saying?'
"And with that the man began, nothing loath, and I must confess
even I was struck by Evesham's reckless folly in the wild and
threatening words he had used. And this messenger they had sent
to me not only told me of Evesham's speech, but went on to ask
counsel and to point out what need they had of me. While he talked,
my lady sat a little forward and watched his face and mine.
"My old habits of scheming and organising reasserted themselves.
I could even see myself suddenly returning to the north, and all
the dramatic effect of it. All that this man said witnessed to
the disorder of the party indeed, but not to its damage. I should
go back stronger than I had come. And then I thought of my lady.
You see--how can I tell you? There were certain peculiarities of our
relationship--as things are I need not tell you about that--which
would render her presence with me impossible. I should have had
to leave her; indeed, I should have had to renounce her clearly
and openly, if I was to do all that I could do in the north.
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