known as the girl who is dying for the love of a man she can't marry.
That's not your metier."

"That's my own affair. If I choose to stick to him you, at least, ought
not to cross me."

"But he won't stick to you. Of course he's my cousin, and I don't see
why he's to be supposed never to say a word to anyone else, when it's
quite understood that you're not going to have one another. What's the
good of being a dog in the manger?"

"Adelaide, you never had any heart!"

"Of course not;--or, if I had, I knew how to get the better of so
troublesome an appendage. I hate hearing about hearts. If he'd take you
to-morrow you wouldn't marry him?"

"Yes, I would."

"I don't believe it. I don't think you'd be so wicked. Where would you
live, and how? How long would it be before you hated each other?
Hearts! As if hearts weren't just like anything else which either you
can or you cannot afford yourself. Do you think I couldn't go and fall
in love to-morrow, and think it the best fun in the world? Of course
it's nice to have a fellow like Jack always ready to spoon, and sending
one things, and riding with one, and all that. I don't know any young
woman in London would like it better than I should. But I can't afford
it, my dear, and so I don't do it."

"It seems to me you are going to do it with your old lover?"

"Dear Lord George! I swear it's only to bring Mary down a peg, because
she is so proud of her nobleman. And then he is handsome! But, my dear,
I've pleased myself. I have got a house over my head, and a carriage to
sit in, and servants to wait on me, and I've settled myself. Do you do
likewise, and you shall have your Lord George, or Jack De Baron, if he
pleases;--only don't go too far with him."

"Adelaide," said the other, "I'm not good, but you're downright bad."
Mrs. Houghton only laughed, as she got up from her seat to welcome the
gentlemen as they entered the room.

Mary, as soon as the door of the brougham had been closed upon her, and
her husband, began to tell her story. "What do you think Miss Houghton
has told me?" Lord George, of course, could have no thoughts about it,
and did not at first very much care what the story might have been.
"She says that your brother was married ever so long ago!"

"I don't believe it," said Lord George, suddenly and angrily.

"A year before we were married, I mean."

"I don't believe it."

"And she says that they have a son."

"What!"

"That there is a baby,-