ure she hasn't a
better friend than my wife. All this has taken place under our roof,
and I mean to speak my mind plainly. What do you propose to do about
your marriage?"

"I don't propose to tell you what I mean to do."

"Will you tell Miss Palliser,--or my wife?"

"That is just as I may think fit."

"Then I must tell you that you cannot meet her at my house."

"I'll leave it to-day."

"You needn't do that either. You sleep on it, and then make up your
mind. You can't suppose that I have any curiosity about it. The girl
is fond of you, and I suppose that you are fond of her. Don't quarrel
for nothing. If I have offended you, speak to Lady Chiltern about
it."

"Very well;--I will speak to Lady Chiltern."

When they reached the house it was clear that something was wrong.
Miss Palliser was not seen again before dinner, and Lady Chiltern was
grave and very cold in her manner to Gerard Maule. He was left alone
all the afternoon, which he passed with his horses and groom, smoking
more cigars,--but thinking all the time of Adelaide Palliser's last
words, of Lord Chiltern's frown, and of Lady Chiltern's manner to
him. When he came into the drawing-room before dinner, Lady Chiltern
and Adelaide were both there, and Adelaide immediately began to ask
questions about the kennel and the huntsmen. But she studiously
kept at a distance from him, and he himself felt that it would be
impossible to resume at present the footing on which he stood with
them both on the previous evening. Presently Lord Chiltern came in,
and another man and his wife who had come to stay at Harrington.
Nothing could be more dull than the whole evening. At least so Gerard
found it. He did take Adelaide in to dinner, but he did not sit next
to her at table, for which, however, there was an excuse, as, had
he done so, the new-comer must have been placed by his wife. He was
cross, and would not make an attempt to speak to his neighbour, and,
though he tried once or twice to talk to Lady Chiltern--than whom,
as a rule, no woman was ever more easy in conversation--he failed
altogether. Now and again he strove to catch Adelaide's eye, but even
in that he could not succeed. When the ladies left the room Chiltern
and the new-corner--who was not a sporting man, and therefore did not
understand the question--became lost in the mazes of Trumpeton Wood.
But Gerard Maule did not put in a word; nor was a word addressed to
him by Lord Chiltern. As he sat there s