ld fonder of dancing than you
are. Perhaps he objects to it."

"He doesn't like my waltzing," said Mary, with a blush. On former
occasions she had almost made up her mind to confide her troubles to
this old woman, and now the occasion seemed so suitable that she could
not keep herself from telling so much as that.

"Oh!" said Mrs. Montacute Jones. "That's it! I knew there was
something. My dear, he's a goose, and you ought to tell him so."

"Couldn't you tell him," said Mary, laughing.

"Would do it in half a minute, and think nothing of it!"

"Pray, don't. He wouldn't like it at all."

"My dear, you shouldn't be afraid of him. I'm not going to preach up
rebellion against husbands. I'm the last woman in London to do that. I
know the comfort of a quiet house as well as any one, and that two
people can't get along easy together unless there is a good deal of
give and take. But it doesn't do to give up everything. What does he
say about it?"

"He says he doesn't like it."

"What would he say if you told him you didn't like his going to his
club."

"He wouldn't go."

"Nonsense! It's being a dog in the manger, because he doesn't care for
it himself. I should have it out with him,--nicely and pleasantly. Just
tell him that you're fond of it, and ask him to change his mind. I
can't bear anybody interfering to put down the innocent pleasures of
young people. A man like that just opens his mouth and speaks a word,
and takes away the whole pleasure of a young woman's season! You've got
my card for the 10th of June?"

"Oh yes,--I've got it."

"And I shall expect you to come. It's only going to be a small affair.
Get him to bring you if you can, and you do as I bid you. Just have it
out with him,--nicely and quietly. Nobody hates a row so much as I do,
but people oughtn't to be trampled on."

All this had considerable effect upon Lady George. She quite agreed
with Mrs. Jones that people ought not to be trampled on. Her father had
never trampled on her. From him there had been very little positive
ordering as to what she might and what she might not do. And yet she
had been only a child when living with her father. Now she was a
married woman, and the mistress of her own house. She was quite sure
that were she to ask her father, the Dean would say that such a
prohibition as this was absurd. Of course she could not ask her father.
She would not appeal from her husband to him. But it was a hardship,
and she almost ma