But any humour towards
quarrelling which Phineas Finn might have felt for a day or so was
quieted by his wife's prudence. 'A man,' she said, 'can do no more
than apologise. After that there is not room for reproach.'
At dinner the conversation turned at first on British politics, in
which Mrs Finn was quite able to take her part. Phineas was
decidedly of the opinion that Sir Timothy Beeswax and Lord
Drummond could not live another session. And on this subject a
good deal was said. Later in the evening the Duke found himself
sitting with Mrs Finn in the broad verandah over the hotel garden,
while Lady Mary was playing to Phineas within. 'How do you think
she is looking?' asked the father.
'Of course I see that she has been ill. She tells me that she was
far from well at Salzburg.'
'Yes;--indeed for three or four days she frightened me much. She
suffered terribly from headaches.'
'Nervous headache?'
'So they said there. I feel quite angry with myself because I did
not bring a doctor with us. The trouble and ceremony of such an
accompaniment is no doubt disagreeable.
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