st few months had made so much
of him that he might be excused for being unable to sink himself in
the presence of others. He was the heir to the baronetcy,--and to the
double fortunes of the two old men. And he was going to be married in
a manner as every one told him to increase the glory and stability of
the family. "It's all nonsense about your not coming down," he said.
She smiled and shook her head. "I can only tell you that it will give
the greatest offence to every one. If you knew how much they talk
about you down there I don't think you would like to hurt them."

"Of course I would not like to hurt them."

"And considering that you have no other brother--"

"Oh, Everett!"

"I think more about it, perhaps, than you do. I think you owe it me
to come down. You will never probably have another chance of being
present at your brother's marriage." This he said in a tone that was
almost lachrymose.

"A wedding, Everett, should be merry."

"I don't know about that. It is a very serious sort of thing to my
way of thinking. When Mary got your letter it nearly broke her heart.
I think I have a right to expect it, and if you don't come I shall
feel myself injured. I don't see what is the use of having a family
if the members of it do not stick together. What would you think if I
were to desert you?"

"Desert you, Everett?"

"Well, yes;--it is something of the kind. I have made my request, and
you can comply with it or not as you please."

"I will go," she said very slowly. Then she left him and went to her
own room to think in what description of garment she could appear at
a wedding with the least violence to the conditions of her life.

"I have got her to say she'll come," he said to his father that
evening. "If you leave her to me, I'll bring her round."

Soon after that,--within a day or two,--there came out a paragraph in
one of the fashionable newspapers of the day, saying that an alliance
had been arranged between the heir to the Wharton title and property
and the daughter of the present baronet. I think that this had
probably originated in the club gossip. I trust it did not spring
directly from the activity or ambition of Everett himself.

CHAPTER LXXVI

Who Will It Be?

For the first day or two after the resignation of the Ministry
the Duchess appeared to take no further notice of the matter. An
ungrateful world had repudiated her and her husband, and he had
foolishly assisted and give