n ceded by her to her
son, in return for the loan of the big house. The absentee Marquis had
made with his mother the best bargain in his power, and had let the
dower house, known as Cross Hall, to a sporting farmer. He now kindly
offered to allow his mother to have the rent of her own house,
signifying at the same time his wish that all his family should remove
themselves out of his way.

"He wishes that we should take ourselves off," said Lord George,
hoarsely.

"But I do not see why we are to give way to his wishes. George, where
are we to go? Of what use can we be in a strange country? Wherever we
are we shall be very poor, but our money will go further here than
elsewhere. How are we to get up new interests in life? The land is his,
but the poor people belong to us as much as to him. It is
unreasonable."

"It is frightfully selfish."

"I for one am not prepared to obey him in this," said Lady Sarah. "Of
course mamma will do as she pleases, but I do not see why we should go.
He will never live here all the year through."

"He will be sick of it after a month. Will you read the letter to my
mother?"

"I will tell her, George. She had better not see the letter, unless she
makes a point of it. I will read it again, and then do you keep it. You
should tell Mary at once. It is natural that she should have built
hopes on the improbability of Brotherton's marriage."

Before noon on that day the news had been disseminated through the
house. The old Marchioness, when she first heard of the Italian wife,
went into hysterics, and then was partly comforted by reminding herself
that all Italians were not necessarily bad. She asked after the letter
repeatedly; and at last, when it was found to be impossible to explain
to her otherwise what her eldest son meant about the houses, it was
shown to her. Then she began to weep afresh.

"Why mayn't we live at Cross Hall, Sarah?" she said.

"Cross Hall belongs to you, mamma, and nothing can hinder you from
living there."

"But Augustus says that we are to go away."

The Marchioness was the only one of the family who ever called the
Marquis by his Christian name, and she did so only when she was much
disturbed.

"No doubt he expresses a wish that we should do so?"

"Where are we to go to, and I at my age?"

"I think you should live at Cross Hall."

"But he says that we mayn't. We could never go on there if he wants us
to go away."

"Why not, mamma? It is your house