let them; he set
up splendid equipages, that, when seen, they should be sold. "My
very emeralds," said she, "were admired and bought by the Duchess of
Windermere. It is very difficult to say that there is anything out of
which he cannot extract a profit. If my ponies were praised in the park,
I knew it was only the prelude to their being at Tattersall's in
the morning; even the camellia which I wore in my hair was turned to
advantage, for it sold the conservatory that raised it. And yet they
tell me that if--they say that--I mean--I am told that the law would
not construe these as cruelty, but simply a very ordinary exercise of
marital authority, something unpleasant, perhaps, but not enough to
warrant complaint, still less resistance."

"But they _are_ cruelties," broke in Lady Lackington; "men in Mr.
Twining's rank of life do not beat their wives--"

"No, they only break their hearts," sighed Lady Grace; "and this, I
believe, is perfectly legal."

"They were doing, or going to do, something about that t' other day
in the Lords. That dear old man, Lord Cloudeslie, had a bill or an
amendment to somebody's bill, by which--I 'm not sure I 'm quite correct
about it--but I believe it gave the wife power to take her settlement.
No, that is not it; she was to be able, after five years of great
cruelty--I'm afraid I have no clear recollection of its provisions,
but I know the odious Chancellor said it would effectually make women
independent of men."

"Of course it never will become law, then," sighed Lady Grace, again.

"Who knows, dear? They are always passing something or other they 're
sorry for afterwards in either House. Shall I tell you who'd know all
about it?--that Mr. Davenport Dunn. He is just the kind of person to
understand these things."

"Indeed!" exclaimed Lady Grace, with more animation in her manner.

"Let as ask him to dinner," said Lady Lackington; "I know him
sufficiently to do so,--that is, I have met him once. He 'll be charmed,
of course; and if there is anything very good and very safe to be done
on the Bourse, he 'll certainly tell us."

"I don't care for the Bourse. Indeed, I have nothing to speculate with."

"That is the best reason in the world, my dear, to make a venture; at
least, so my brother-in-law, Annesley, says. You are certain to come
out a winner, and in my own brief experiences, I never gave anything,--I
only said, 'Yes, I 'll have the shares.' They were at fifty-eight and
th