ife; but that now it would behove her, as a married woman, to learn
those ways. Perhaps the free and easy mode of talking was the right
thing. She did not like being told by another lady that that other lady
would have married her own husband, only that he was a pauper; and the
offence of all this seemed to be the greater because it was all so
recent. She didn't like being told that she was not to be jealous,
especially when she remembered that her husband had been desperately in
love with the lady who told her so not many months ago. But she was not
jealous, and was quite sure she never would be jealous; and, perhaps,
it did not matter. All this had occurred in the drawing-room before
dinner. Then Mr. Houghton came up to her, telling that he had been
commissioned by the Dean to have the honour of taking her down to
dinner. Having made his little speech, Mr. Houghton retired,--as
gentlemen generally do retire when in that position.

"Be as nice as you can to him," said Mrs. Houghton. "He hasn't much to
say for himself, but he isn't half a bad fellow; and a pretty woman
like you can do what she likes with him."

Lady George, as she went down to dinner, assured herself that she had
no slightest wish to take any unfair advantage of Mr. Houghton.

Lord George had taken down Miss Tallowax, the Dean having been very
wise in this matter; and Miss Tallowax was in a seventh heaven of
happiness. Miss Tallowax, though she had made no promises, was quite
prepared to do great things for her noble connexions, if her noble
connexions would treat her properly. She had already made half-a-dozen
wills, and was quite ready to make another, if Lord George would be
civil to her. The Dean was in his heart a little ashamed of his aunt;
but he was man enough to be able to bear her eccentricities without
showing his vexation, and sufficiently wise to know that more was to be
won than lost by the relationship.

"The best woman in the world," he had said to Lord George beforehand,
speaking of his aunt; "but, of course, you will remember that she was
not brought up as a lady."

Lord George, with stately urbanity, had signified his intention of
treating Miss Tallowax with every consideration.

"She has thirty thousand pounds at her own disposal," continued the
Dean. "I have never said a word to her about money, but, upon my
honour, I think she likes Mary better than any one else. It's worth
bearing in mind, you know."

Lord George smiled ag