ice,
accompanied him. She was of course anxious to see Lady Susanna, who had
always especially disliked her; and Jack himself was desirous of making
the acquaintance of a lady who had been, he was assured, sent up to
town on purpose to protect the young wife from his wiles. Both Mrs.
Houghton and Jack had become very intimate in Munster Court, and there
was nothing strange in their dropping in together even before lunch.
Jack was of course introduced to Lady Susanna. The two ladies grimaced
at each other, each knowing the other's feeling towards herself. Mary
having suspected that Lady Susanna had been sent for in reference to
this special friend, determined on being specially gracious to Jack.
She had already, since Lady Susanna's arrival, told that lady that she
was able to manage her own little affairs. Lady Susanna had said an
unfortunate word as to the unnecessary expense of four wax candles
when they two were sitting alone in the drawing-room. Lady George had
said that it was pretty. Lady Susanna had expostulated gravely, and
then Lady George had spoken out. "Dear Susanna, do let me manage my own
little affairs." Of course the words had rankled, and of course the
love which the ladies bore to each other had not been increased. Lady
George was now quite resolved to show dear Susanna that she was not
afraid of her duenna.

"We thought we'd venture to see if you'd give us lunch," said Mrs.
Houghton.

"Delightful!" exclaimed Lady George. "There's nothing to eat; but you
won't mind that."

"Not in the least," said Jack. "I always think the best lunch in the
world is a bit of the servants' dinner. It's always the best meat, and
the best cooked and the hottest served."

There was plenty of lunch from whatsoever source it came, and the three
young people were very merry. Perhaps they were a little noisy. Perhaps
there was a little innocent slang in their conversation. Ladies do
sometimes talk slang, and perhaps the slang was encouraged for the
special edification of Lady Susanna. But slang was never talked at
Manor Cross or Cross Hall, and was odious to Lady Susanna. When Lady
George declared that some offending old lady ought to be "jumped upon,"
Lady Susanna winced visibly. When Jack told Lady George that "she was
the woman to do it," Lady Susanna shivered almost audibly. "Is anything
the matter?" asked Lady George, perhaps not quite innocently.

It seemed to Lady Susanna that these visitors were never going away,