y between herself and Mary, flattering his vanity by
little speeches as to Manor Cross, always seeming to imply that she
felt hourly the misfortune of having been forced to decline the honour
of such an alliance as had been offered to her. He was, in truth, as
innocent as his wife, except in this, that he would not have wished her
to hear all that Mrs. Houghton said to him, whereas Mary would have had
not the slightest objection to his hearing all the nonsense between her
and Captain De Baron.

The ladies sat a long time after dinner, and when they went Mrs.
Houghton asked her husband to come up in ten minutes. They did not
remain much longer, but during those ten minutes Guss Mildmay said
something of her wrongs to her friend, and Lady George heard some news
from Miss Houghton. Miss Houghton had got Lady George on to a sofa, and
was talking to her about Brotherton and Manor Cross. "So the Marquis is
coming," she said. "I knew the Marquis years ago, when we used to be
staying with the De Barons,--Adelaide's father and mother. She was
alive then, and the Marquis used to come over there. So he has
married?"

"Yes; an Italian."

"I did not think he would ever marry. It makes a difference to
you;--does it not?"

"I don't think of such things."

"You will not like him, for he is the very opposite to Lord George."

"I don't know that I shall ever even see him. I don't think he wants to
see any of us."

"I dare say not. He used to be very handsome, and very fond of ladies'
society,--but, I think, the most selfish human being I ever knew in my
life. That is a complaint that years do not cure. He and I were great
friends once."

"Did you quarrel?"

"Oh, dear no. I had rather a large fortune of my own, and there was a
time in which he was, perhaps, a little in want of money. But they had
to build a town on his property in Staffordshire, and you see that did
instead."

"Did instead!" said Lady George, altogether in the dark.

"There was suddenly a great increase to his income, and, of course,
that altered his view. I am bound to say that he was very explicit. He
could be so without suffering himself, or understanding that any one
else would suffer. I tell you because you are one of the family, and
would, no doubt, hear it all some day through Adelaide. I had a great
escape."

"And he a great misfortune," said Mary civilly.

"I think he had, to tell you the truth. I am good-tempered,
long-suffering, and have a ce