r for
you and better for me. It is impossible that there should be pleasant
intercourse between you and my wife, and I recommended you to go
elsewhere. If you had done so I would have taken care that you were
comfortable." Again the Marchioness looked at Lady Sarah with bitter
reproaches in her eyes.

"What interest in life would we have had in a distant home?" said Lady
Sarah.

"Why not you as well as other people?"

"Because, unlike other people, we have become devoted to one spot. The
property belongs to you."

"I hope so."

"But the obligations of the property have been, at any rate, as near to
us as to you. Society, I suppose, may be found in a new place, but we
do not care much for society."

"Then it would have been so much the easier."

"But it would have been impossible for us to find new duties."

"Nonsense," said the Marquis, "humbug; d----d trash."

"If you cannot speak otherwise than like that before your mother,
Brotherton, I think you had better leave her," said Lady Sarah,
bravely.

"Don't, Sarah,--don't!" said the Marchioness.

"It is trash and nonsense, and humbug. I told you that you were better
away, and you determined to stay. I knew what was best for you, but you
chose to be obstinate. I have not the slightest doubt as to who did
it."

"We were all of the same mind," said Lady Susanna. "Alice said it would
be quite cruel that mamma should be moved." Alice was now the wife of
Canon Holdenough.

"It would have been very bad for us all to go away," said Lady Amelia.

"George was altogether against it," said Lady Susanna.

"And the Dean," said Lady Amelia, indiscreetly.

"The Dean!" exclaimed the Marquis. "Do you mean to say that that stable
boy has been consulted about my affairs? I should have thought that not
one of you would have spoken to George after he had disgraced himself
by such a marriage."

"There was no need to consult any one," said Lady Sarah. "And we do not
think George's marriage at all disgraceful."

"Mary is a very nice young person," said the Marchioness.

"I dare say. Whether she is nice or not is very little to me. She has
got some fortune, and I suppose that was what he wanted. As you are all
of you fixed here now, and seem to have spent a lot of money, I suppose
you will have to remain. You have turned my tenant out----"

"Mr. Price was quite willing to go," said Lady Susanna.

"I dare say. I trust he may be as willing to give up the land when his
le