more. But if you go back to old county families, Lady Chiltern, the
Spooners have been here pretty nearly as long as the Pallisers,--if
not longer. The Desponders, from whom we come, came over with William
the Conqueror."

"I have always heard that there isn't a more respectable family in
the county."

"That there isn't. There was a grant of land, which took their name,
and became the Manor of Despond; there's where Spoon Hall is now. Sir
Thomas Desponder was one of those who demanded the Charter, though
his name wasn't always given because he wasn't a baron. Perhaps Miss
Palliser does not know all that."

"I doubt whether she cares about those things."

"Women do care about them,--very much. Perhaps she has heard of the
two spoons crossed, and doesn't know that that was a stupid vulgar
practical joke. Our crest is a knight's head bowed, with the motto,
'Desperandum.' Soon after the Conquest one of the Desponders fell in
love with the Queen, and never would give it up, though it wasn't
any good. Her name was Matilda, and so he went as a Crusader and got
killed. But wherever he went he had the knight's head bowed, and the
motto on the shield."

"What a romantic story, Mr. Spooner!"

"Isn't it? And it's quite true. That's the way we became Spooners. I
never told her of it, but, somehow I wish I had now. It always seemed
that she didn't think that I was anybody."

"The truth is, Mr. Spooner, that she was always thinking that
somebody else was everything. When a gentleman is told that a lady's
affections have been pre-engaged, however much he may regret the
circumstances, he cannot, I think, feel any hurt to his pride. If I
understand the matter, Miss Palliser explained to you that she was
engaged when first you spoke to her."

"You are speaking of young Gerard Maule."

"Of course I am speaking of Mr. Maule."

"But she has quarrelled with him, Lady Chiltern."

"Don't you know what such quarrels come to?"

"Well, no. That is to say, everybody tells me that it is really
broken off, and that he has gone nobody knows where. At any rate he
never shows himself. He doesn't mean it, Lady Chiltern."

"I don't know what he means."

"And he can't afford it, Lady Chiltern. I mean it, and I can afford
it. Surely that might go for something."

"I cannot say what Mr. Maule may mean to do, Mr. Spooner, but I think
it only fair to tell you that he is at present staying at Matching,
under the same roof with Miss Palliser