ain in a stately manner,--perhaps showing
something of displeasure in his smile. But, nevertheless, he was well
aware that it was worth his while to bear Miss Tallowax and her money
in his mind.

"My lord," said Miss Tallowax, "I hope you will allow me to say how
much honoured we all feel by Mary's proud position." Lord George bowed
and smiled, and led the lady into the deanery dining-room. Words did
not come easily to him, and he hardly knew how to answer the lady. "Of
course, it's a great thing for people such as us," continued Miss
Tallowax, "to be connected with the family of a Marquis." Again Lord
George bowed. This was very bad, indeed,--a great deal worse than he
had anticipated from the aunt of so courtly a man as his father-in-law,
the Dean. The lady looked to be about sixty; very small, very healthy,
with streaky red cheeks, small grey eyes, and a brown front. Then came
upon him an idea, that it would be a very long time before the thirty
thousand pounds, or any part of it, would come to him. And then there
came to him another idea, that as he had married the Dean's daughter,
it was his duty to behave well to the Dean's aunt, even though the
money should never come to him. He therefore told Miss Tallowax that
his mother hoped to have the pleasure of seeing her at Manor Cross
before she left Brotherton. Miss Tallowax almost got out of her seat,
as she curtseyed with her head and shoulders to this proposition.

The Dean was a very good man at the head of his own dinner-table, and
the party went off pleasantly in spite of sundry attempts at clerical
pugnacity made by Mr. Groschut. Every man and every beast has his own
weapon. The wolf fights with his tooth, the bull with his horn, and Mr.
Groschut always fought with his bishop,--so taught by inner instinct.
The bishop, according to Mr. Groschut, was inclined to think that this
and that might be done. That such a change might be advantageously made
in reference to certain clerical meetings, and that the hilarity of the
diocese might be enhanced by certain evangelical festivities. These
remarks were generally addressed to Mr. Canon Holdenough, who made
almost no reply to them. But the Dean was, on each occasion, prepared
with some civil answer, which, while it was an answer, would still seem
to change the conversation. It was a law in the Close that Bishop
Barton should be never allowed to interfere with the affairs of
Brotherton Cathedral; and if not the bishop,