Twice during this little conversation Lady Glencora had looked up, catching Alice's eye, and Alice had well known what she had meant. "You see," the glance had said, "Plantagenet is beginning to take an interest in his cousin, and you know why. The man who is to be the father of the future dukes must not be allowed to fritter away his time in obscurity. Had I that cradle up-stairs Jeffrey might be as idle as he pleased." Alice understood it well.
Of course Jeffrey did join the riding party. "What is a man like me to do who wants to do something?" he said to Alice. Alice was quite aware that Lady Glencora had contrived some little scheme that Mr. Palliser should be riding next to her. She liked Mr. Palliser, and therefore had no objection; but she declared to herself that her cousin was a goose for her pains.

During this little conversation Lady Glencora had caught Alice's eye, and Alice had known what she had meant. "You see," the glance had said, "Plantagenet is beginning to take an interest in his cousin, and you know why. The man who is to be a duke must not be allowed to fritter away his time in obscurity. If I had a baby, Jeffrey might be as idle as he pleased." Alice understood it well.
Of course Jeffrey did join the riding party.
"What is a man like me to do?" he said to Alice. Lady Glencora had contrived that he should be riding next to her. She liked Mr. Palliser, and had no objection; but she thought her cousin was a goose.
