w Marchioness, and that he would make no allusion
whatever to the son. A man may say that his wife is too unwell to
receive strangers without implying that the wish to see her should not
have been expressed. The visitor bowed, and then the two men both sat
silent for some moments. "You have not seen your brother since you have
been back?" the Dean said at last.

"I have not seen him. I don't know where he is, or anything about him."

"They live in London,--in Munster Court."

"Very likely. He didn't consult me about his marriage, and I don't know
anything about his concerns."

"He told you of it,--before it took place."

"Very likely,--though I do not exactly see how that concerns you and
me."

"You must be aware that he is married to--my daughter."

"Quite so."

"That would, generally, be supposed to give a common interest."

"Ah! I dare say. You feel it so, no doubt. I am glad that you are
satisfied by an alliance with my family. You are anxious for me to
profess that it is reciprocal."

"I am anxious for nothing of the kind," said the Dean, jumping up from
his chair. "I have nothing to get and nothing to lose by the alliance.
The usual courtesies of life are pleasant to me."

"I wish that you would use them then on the present occasion by being a
little quieter."

"Your brother has married a lady, and my daughter has married a
gentleman."

"Yes; George is a great ass; in some respects the greatest ass I know;
but he is a gentleman. Perhaps if you have anything else that you wish
to say you will do me the honour of sitting down."

The Dean was so angry that he did not know how to contain himself. The
Marquis had snubbed him for coming. He had then justified his visit by
an allusion to the connection between them, and the Marquis had replied
to this by hinting that though a Dean might think it a very fine thing
to have his daughter married into the family of a Marquis, the Marquis
probably would not look at it in the same light. And yet what was the
truth? Whence had come the money which had made the marriage possible?
In the bargain between them which party had had the best of it? He was
conscious that it would not become him to allude to the money, but his
feeling on the subject was very strong. "My lord," he said, "I do not
know that there is anything to be gained by my sitting down again."

"Perhaps not. I dare say you know best."

"I came here intent on what I considered to be a courtesy due to