What Will He Do With It?

Five years on, Hyde Park in June becomes a glittering stage for London society, where Ladies Prymme, Lady Frost, Mr. Crampe, Slowes, and other polished observers turn appearance, rank, and gossip into a public performance. Into this bright world comes Frank Vance, the painter, impatiently waiting for Lionel Haughton, now a confident young man on the rise. Their meeting launches a lively journey through the city and along the river, filled with wit, comic debate, and unexpected seriousness. As they talk, Vance's sarcasm gives way to eloquence on military honor, while Lionel reveals his ambition, his devotion to duty, and his complicated gratitude to the powerful Guy Darrell. Their banter ranges from fame and friendship to marriage, domestic burdens, and the hidden poverty and sacrifice behind Vance's success. The mood then shifts toward deeper concerns: Darrell, alone in his grand London house, is shown as dignified yet restless, drawn back into memories of lost hopes, family power struggles, and the emotional cost of wealth. Through these intertwined conversations, the novel sharpens its portrait of ambition, loyalty, social maneuvering, and the quiet loneliness beneath public success. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.