an acquaintance as I
have had with Guss Mildmay? I have tried to do so, but I couldn't do
it. There are men, I believe, hard enough even for that; and things are
changed now, and the affectation of chivalry has gone bye. Women ask
men to marry them, and the men laugh and refuse."

"Don't say that, Captain De Baron."

"I'm told that's the way the thing is done now; but I've no strength
myself, and I'm not up to it. I'm not at all joking. I think I shall
exchange and go away. I've brought my pigs to a bad market, but as far
as I can see that is the best that is left for me." Mary could only say
that his friends would be very--very sorry to lose him, but that in her
opinion anything would be better than marrying a girl whom he did not
love.

Courtesies at this time were showered upon Lady George from all sides.
Old Lady Brabazon, to whom she had hardly spoken, wrote to her at great
length. Mrs. Patmore Green came to her on purpose to talk about her
daughter's marriage. "We are very much pleased of course," said Mrs.
Green. "It was altogether a love affair, and the young people are so
fond of each other! I do so hope you and she will be friends. Of course
her position is not so brilliant as yours, but still it is very good.
Poor dear Lord Gossling"--whom, by the bye, Mrs. Patmore Green had
never seen--"is failing very much; he is a martyr to the gout, and then
he is so imprudent."

Lady Mary smiled and was civil, but did not make any promise of
peculiarly intimate friendship. Lady Selina Protest came to her with a
long story of her wrongs, and a petition that she would take the
Fleabody side in the coming contest. It was in vain that she declared
that she had no opinion whatsoever as to the rights of women; a
marchioness she was told would be bound to have opinions, or, at any
rate, would be bound to subscribe.

But the courtesy which surprised and annoyed her most was a visit from
Adelaide Houghton. She came up to London for a week about the end of
February, and had the hardihood to present herself at the house in
Munster Court. This was an insult which Mary had by no means expected;
she had therefore failed to guard herself against it by any special
instructions to her servant. And thus Mrs. Houghton, the woman who had
written love-letters to her husband, was shown up into her drawing-room
before she had the means of escaping. When the name was announced she
felt that she was trembling. There came across her a feel