And by-and-by the first shadow began to sweep over the fairness of her
married life. It happened at a time when she and her husband were not
quite so much together,--society and its various claims had naturally
separated them a little, but now a question of political ambition
separated them still more. Some well-intentioned friends had persuaded
Sir Philip to stand for Parliament--and this idea no sooner entered his
head, than he decided with impulsive ardor that he had been too long
without a "career,"--and a "career" he must have in order to win
distinction for his wife's sake. Therefore, summoning his secretary,
Neville to his aid, he plunged headlong into the seething, turgid waters
of English politics, and shut himself up in his library day after day,
studying blue-books, writing and answering letters, and drawing up
addresses,--and with the general proneness of the masculine mind to
attend to one thing only at a time, he grew so absorbed in his work that
his love for Thelma, though all unchanged and deep as ever, fell
slightly into the background of his thoughts.
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