the whole family; and, sir, you mustn't believe a word of
what that bad man says in his novels about mothers-in-law. He has
done a great deal of harm, and shut half the ladies in England out of
their daughters' houses."
"He shan't shut Mrs Dale out of mine."
"Remember he doesn't. Now, good-bye." So the bride and bridegroom
went off, and Lily was left to flirt with Lord De Guest.
Of whom else is it necessary that a word or two should be said before
I allow the weary pen to fall from my hand? The squire, after much
inward struggling on the subject, had acknowledged to himself that
his sister-in-law had not received from him that kindness which she
had deserved. He had acknowledged this, purporting to do his best to
amend his past errors; and I think I may say that his efforts in that
line would not be received ungraciously by Mrs Dale. I am inclined,
therefore, to think that life at Allington, both at the Great House
and at the Small, would soon become pleasanter than it used to be in
former days. Lily soon got the Balmoral boots, or, at least, soon
learned that the power of getting them as she pleased had devolved
upon her from her uncle's gift; so that she talked even of buying the
squirrel's cage; but I am not aware that her extravagance led her as
far as that.
Lord de Courcy we left suffering dreadfully from gout and ill-temper
at Courcy Castle. Yes, indeed! To him in his latter days life did not
seem to offer much that was comfortable. His wife had now gone from
him, and declared positively to her son-in-law that no earthly
consideration should ever induce her to go back again;--"not if I
were to starve!" she said. By which she intended to signify that she
would be firm in her resolve, even though she should thereby lose
her carriage and horses. Poor Mr Gazebee went down to Courcy, and
had a dreadful interview with the earl; but matters were at last
arranged, and her ladyship remained at Baden-Baden in a state of
semi-starvation. That is to say, she had but one horse to her
carriage.
As regards Crosbie, I am inclined to believe that he did again
recover his power at his office. He was Mr Butterwell's master, and
the master also of Mr Optimist, and the major. He knew his business,
and could do it, which was more, perhaps, than might fairly be said
of any of the other three. Under such circumstances he was sure to
get in his hand, and lead again. But elsewhere his star did not
recover its ascendancy. He din
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