should be such a dance to be seen in a lady's
drawing-room, and that he should be there to see it. It was to him an
additional delight that his daughter should have been selected as one
of the dancers. These people were all persons of rank and fashion, and
his girl was among them quite as their equal,--his girl, who some day
should be Marchioness of Brotherton. And it gratified him thoroughly to
think that she enjoyed it,--that she did it well,--that she could dance
so that standers-by took pleasure in seeing her dancing. His mind in
the matter was altogether antagonistic to that of his son-in-law.

Then came the little accident. The Dean, with a momentary impulse, put
up his hand, and then smiled well pleased when he saw how well the
matter had been rectified by the Captain's activity. But it was not so
with Lord George. He pressed forward into the circle with so determined
a movement that nothing could arrest him till he had his wife by the
arm. Everybody, of course, was staring at him. The dancers were
astounded. Mary apparently thought less of it than the others, for she
spoke to him with a smile. "It is all right, George; I was not in the
least hurt."

"It is disgraceful!" said he, in a loud voice; "come away."

"Oh, yes," she said; "I think we had finished. It was nobody's fault."

"Come away; I will have no more of this."

"Is there anything wrong?" asked the Dean, with an air of innocent
surprise.

The offended husband was almost beside himself with passion. Though he
knew that he was surrounded by those who would mock him he could not
restrain himself. Though he was conscious at the moment that it was his
special duty to shield his wife, he could not restrain his feelings.
The outrage was too much for him. "There is very much the matter," he
said, aloud; "let her come away with me." Then he took her under his
arm, and attempted to lead her away to the door.

Mrs. Montacute Jones had, of course, seen it all, and was soon with
him. "Pray, do not take her away, Lord George," she said.

"Madam, I must be allowed to do so," he replied, still pressing on. "I
would prefer to do so."

"Wait till her carriage is here."

"We will wait below. Good-night, good-night." And so he went out of the
room with his wife on his arm, followed by the Dean. Since she had
perceived that he was angry with her, and that he had displayed his
anger in public Mary had not spoken a word. She had pressed him to come
and see the d