ess of
his conduct at the ball. Before he was twenty miles out of London he
was thinking with infinite regret of his love for his wife, already
realising the misery of living without her, almost stirred to get out
at the next station and return by the first train to Munster Court. In
this hour of his sorrow there came upon him a feeling of great hatred
for Mrs. Houghton. He almost believed that she had for her own vile
purposes excited Captain De Baron to make love to his wife. And then,
in regard to that woman, his wife had behaved so well! Surely something
was due to so much generosity. And then, when she had been angry with
him, she had been more beautiful than ever. What a change had those few
months in London made in her! She had lost her childish little
timidities, and had bloomed forth a beautiful woman. He had no doubt as
to her increased loveliness, and had been proud to think that all had
acknowledged it. But as to the childish timidity, perhaps he would have
preferred that it should not have been so quickly or so entirely
banished. Even at Brotherton he hankered to return to London; but, had
he done so, the Brotherton world would have known it. He put himself
into a carriage instead, and had himself driven through the park to
Cross Hall.

All this occurred on the day but one subsequent to the ball, and he had
by the previous post informed Lady Sarah that he was coming. But in
that letter he had said that he would bring his wife with him, and on
his immediate arrival had to answer questions as to her unexpected
absence. "Her father was very unwilling that she should come," he said.

"But I thought he was at the hotel," said Lady Sarah.

"He is in Munster Court, now. To tell the truth I am not best pleased
that it should be so; but at the last moment I did not like to
contradict her. I hate London and everything in it. She likes it, and
as there was a kind of bargain made I could not well depart from it."

"And you have left her alone with her father in London," said Lady
Susanna, with a tone of pretended dismay.

"How can she be alone if her father is with her," answered Lord George,
who did not stand in awe of Lady Susanna as he did of Lady Sarah.
Nothing further at the moment was said, but all the sisters felt that
there was something wrong.

"I don't think it at all right that Mary should be left with the Dean,"
said the old lady to her second daughter. But the old lady was
specially prejudiced again