w. There is
not a house in which you would not see Amelia's and Susanna's work. We
cannot begin all that over again."

"When I am gone, my dear, you must do so."

"Who can say how much may be done before that sad day shall come to us?
He may have taken his Italian wife back again to Italy. Mamma, we ought
not to run away from our duties."

On the following morning it was settled among them that the dowager
should insist on possession of her own house at Cross Hall, and a
letter was written to the Marquis, congratulating him of course on his
marriage, but informing him at the same time that the family would
remain in the parish.

Some few days later Mr. Knox, the agent for the property, came down
from London. He had received the orders of the Marquis, and would be
prepared to put workmen into the house as soon as her ladyship would be
ready to leave it. But he quite agreed that this could not be done at
once. A beginning no doubt might be made while they were still there,
but no painting should be commenced or buildings knocked down or put up
till March. It was settled at the same time that on the first of March
the family should leave the house.

"I hope my son won't be angry," the Marchioness said to Mr. Knox.

"If he be angry, my lady, he will be angry without a cause. But I never
knew him to be very angry about anything."

"He always did like to have his own way, Mr. Knox," said the mindful
mother.

CHAPTER VII.

"CROSS HALL GATE."

While Mr. Knox was still in the country negociations were opened with
Mr. Price, the sporting farmer, who, like all sporting farmers, was in
truth a very good fellow. He had never been liked by the ladies at
Manor Cross, as having ways of his own which were not their ways. He
did not go to church as often as they thought he ought to do; and,
being a bachelor, stories were told about him which were probably very
untrue. A bachelor may live in town without any inquiries as to any of
the doings of his life; but if a man live forlorn and unmarried in a
country house, he will certainly become the victim of calumny should
any woman under sixty ever be seen about his place. It was said also of
Mr. Price that sometimes, after hunting, men had been seen to go out of
his yard in an uproarious condition. But I hardly think that old Sir
Simon Bolt, the master of the hounds, could have liked him so well, or
so often have entered his house, had there been much amiss there; and
as