ery rarely speaks. In this way he is gradually
gaining weight in the country, and when his hair is quite grey and his
step less firm than at present, he will be an authority in Parliament.
He is also a pattern landlord, listening to all complaints, and
endeavouring in everything to do justice between himself and those who
are dependent on him. He is also a pattern father, expecting great
things from Popenjoy, and resolving that the child shall be subjected
to proper discipline as soon as he is transferred from feminine to
virile teaching. In the meantime the Marchioness reigns supreme in the
nursery,--as it is proper that she should do.

The husband now never feels himself called upon to remind his wife to
support her dignity. Since the dancing of the Kappa-kappa she has never
danced, except when on grand occasions she has walked through a
quadrille with some selected partner of special rank; and this she does
simply as a duty. Nevertheless, in society she is very gay and very
joyous. But dancing has been a peril to her, and she avoids it
altogether, pleading to such friends as Mrs. Jones that a woman with a
lot of babies is out of place capering about a room. Mrs. Jones
remembers the Kappa-kappa and says little or nothing on the subject,
but she heartily dissents from her friend, and still hopes that there
may be a good time coming. The Marquis remembers it all, too, and is
thoroughly thankful to his wife, showing his gratitude every now and
then by suggesting that Captain and Mrs. De Baron may be asked to
dinner. He knows that there is much for which he has to be grateful.
Though the name of Mrs. Houghton is never on his tongue, he has not
forgotten the way in which he went astray in Berkeley Square,--nor the
sweet reticence of his wife, who has never thrown his fault in his
teeth since that day on which, at his bidding, she took the letter from
his pocket and read it. No man in London is better satisfied with his
wife than the Marquis, and perhaps no man in London has better cause to
be satisfied.

Yes! Captain De Baron--and his wife--do occasionally dine together in
St. James' Square. Whether it was that Mrs. Montacute Jones was
successful in her efforts, or that Guss was enabled to found arguments
on Jack's wealth which Jack was unable to oppose, or that a sense of
what was due to the lady prevailed with him at last, he did marry her
about a twelvemonth after the reading of the will. When the Marchioness
came to