nd opened the new year at Nice, and
made an excursion along the Cornice road to Genoa, during which Lady
Harcourt learned for the first time that the people of Italy are not
so free from cold winds as is generally imagined; and then, early
in February, they returned to their house in Eaton Square. How she
soon became immersed in society, and he in Parliament and the County
Courts, we may also leave to the imagination of the reader. In a
month or two from that time, when the rigours of a London May shall
have commenced, we will return to them again. In the meantime, we
must go back to Hadley--the two old Bertrams, and dear Miss Baker.

The marriage-feast, prepared by Miss Baker for the wedding guests,
did not occupy very long; nor was there any great inducement for
those assembled to remain with Mr. Bertram. He and Miss Baker soon
found themselves again alone; and were no sooner alone than the
business of life recommenced.

"It's a very splendid match for her," said Mr. Bertram.

"Yes, I suppose it is," said Miss Baker. Miss Baker in her heart of
hearts had never quite approved of the marriage.

"And now, Mary, what do you mean to do?"

"Oh, I'll see and get these things taken away," said she.

"Yes, yes; stop a minute; that's of course. But what I mean is,
what do you mean to do with yourself? you can't go back and live at
Littlebath all alone?"

If I were to use the word "flabbergasted" as expressing Miss Baker's
immediate state of mind, I should draw down on myself the just anger
of the critics, in that I had condescended to the use of slang; but
what other word will so well express what is meant? She had fully
intended to go back to Littlebath, and had intended to do so at the
earliest moment that would be possible. Was not Sir Lionel still at
Littlebath? And, moreover, she fully intended to live there. That she
would have some little difficulty in the matter, she had anticipated.
Her own income--that which was indefeasibly her own--was very small;
by far too small to admit of her permanently keeping on those rooms
in Montpellier Terrace. Hitherto their income, her own and Caroline's
put together, had been very comfortable; for Mr. Bertram had annually
paid to her a sum which of itself would have been sufficient for her
own living. But she had not known what difference Caroline's marriage
might make in this allowance. It had been given to herself without
any specification that it had been so given for any pur