the columns of the Brothershire Herald.

"Dear me, George, have you brought that musty old paper up here?"

"Why shouldn't I read the Herald here, as well as at Manor Cross?"

"Oh! yes, if you like it."

"Of course I want to know what is being done in the county." But when
next she looked, the county had certainly faded from his mind, for he
was fast asleep.

On that occasion she did not care very much for Aurora Leigh. Her mind
was hardly tuned to poetry of that sort. The things around her were too
important to allow her mind to indulge itself with foreign cares. And
then she found herself looking at the watch. At Manor Cross ten o'clock
every night brought all the servants into the drawing-room. First the
butler would come and place the chairs, and then the maids, and then
the coachman and footman would follow. Lord George read the prayers,
and Mary had always thought them to be very tiring. But she now felt
that it would almost be a relief if the butler would come in and place
the chairs.

CHAPTER XII.

MISS MILDMAY AND JACK DE BARON.

Lady George was not left long in her new house without visitors. Early
on the day after her arrival, Mrs. Houghton came to her, and began at
once, with great volubility, to explain how the land lay, and to
suggest how it should be made to lie for the future. "I am so glad you
have come. As soon, you know, as they positively forbade me to get on
horseback again this winter, I made up my mind to come to town. What
is there to keep me down there if I don't ride? I promised to obey if I
was brought here,--and to disobey if I was left there. Mr. Houghton
goes up and down, you know. It is hard upon him, poor old fellow. But
then the other thing would be harder on me. He and papa are together
somewhere now, arranging about the spring meetings. They have got their
stables joined, and I know very well who will have the best of that. A
man has to get up very early to see all round papa. But Mr. Houghton is
so rich, it doesn't signify. And now, my dear, what are you going to
do? and what is Lord George going to do? I am dying to see Lord George.
I dare say you are getting a little tired of him by this time."

"Indeed, I'm not."

"You haven't picked up courage enough yet to say so; that's it, my
dear. I've brought cards from Mr. Houghton, which means to say that
though he is down somewhere at Newmarket in the flesh he is to be
supposed to have called upon you and Lord George.