Chapter 23

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌⁠No one can be in profounder ignorance than is Peggy of the fact of any one breathing passionate sighs towards her from Downing Street. The only news that she has heard of John Talbot is a casual mention by Freddy of the fact of his having invited him to spend his Christmas at the Manor, and of his having refused without giving any particular reason.

'He does not care for our simple pleasures, I sup