ry at Matfield
this Christmas, and I thought all the time that a gallery is not the
place for a ball; it is too long and too narrow."

Lady Joan looked at him, and her lip rather curled.

"I wonder if Valentine has sold that bay cob of his," said Lord Milford
to Lord Eugene de Vere.

"I wonder," said Lord Eugene.

"I wish you would ask him, Eugene," said Lord Milford, "you understand,
I don't want him to know I want it."

"'Tis such a bore to ask questions," said Lord Eugene.

"Shall we carry Chichester?" asked Lady Firebrace of Lady St Julians.

"Oh! do not speak to me ever again of the House of Commons," she replied
in a tone of affected despair. "What use is winning our way by units?
It may take years. Lord Protocol says that 'one is enough.' That Jamaica
affair has really ended by greatly strengthening them."

"I do not despair," said Lady Firebrace. "The unequivocal adhesion of
the Duke of Fitz-Aquitaine is a great thing. It gives us the northern
division at a dissolution."

"That is to say in five years, my dear Lady Firebrace. The country will
be ruined before that."

"We shall see. Is it a settled thing between Lady Joan and Mr
Mountchesney?"

"Not the slightest foundation. Lady Joan is a most sensible girl, as
well as a most charming person and my dear friend. She is not in a
hurry to marry, and quite right. If indeed Frederick were a little more
steady--but nothing shall ever induce me to consent to his marrying her,
unless I thought he was worthy of her."

"You are such a good mother," exclaimed Lady Firebrace, "and such a good
friend! I am glad to hear it is not true about Mr Mountchesney."

"If you could only help me, my dear Lady Firebrace, to put an end to
that affair between Frederick and Lady Wallington. It is so silly, and
getting talked about; and in his heart too he really loves Lady Joan;
only he is scarcely aware of it himself."

"We must manage it," said Lady Firebrace, with a look of encouraging
mystery.

"Do, my dear creature; speak to him; he is very much guided by your
opinion. Tell him everybody is laughing at him, and any other little
thing that occurs to you."

"I will come directly," said Lady Marney to her husband, "only let me
see this."

"Well, I will bring Huntingford here. Mind you speak to him a great
deal; take his arm, and go down to supper with him if you can. He is a
very nice sensible young fellow, and you will like him very much I am
sure; a little shy at