as to leave London; and
even the Dean did not propose that she should remain in town after that
date with a direct view to the Kappa-kappa.

She was astonished at the zeal with which he insisted that she should
go out into the gay world. He almost ridiculed her when she spoke of
economy in her dress, and seemed to think that it was her duty to be a
woman of fashion. He still spoke to her from time to time of the
Popenjoy question, always asserting his conviction that, whatever the
Marquis might think, even if he were himself deceived through ignorance
of the law, the child would be at last held to be illegitimate. "They
tell me, too," he said, "that his life is not worth a year's purchase."

"Poor little boy!"

"Of course, if he had been born as the son of the Marquis of Brotherton
ought to be born, nobody would wish him anything but good."

"I don't wish him anything but good," said Mary.

"But as it is," continued the Dean, apparently not observing his
daughter's remark, "everybody must feel that it would be better for the
family that he should be out of the way. Nobody can think that such a
child can live to do honour to the British peerage."

"He might be well brought up."

"He wouldn't be well brought up. He has an Italian mother and Italian
belongings, and everything around him as bad as it can be. But the
question at last is one of right. He was clearly born when his mother
was reputed to be the wife, not of his father, but of another man. That
cock-and-bull story which we have heard may be true. It is possible.
But I could not rest in my bed if I did not persevere in ascertaining
the truth." The Dean did persevere, and was very constant in his visits
to Mr. Battle's office. At this time Miss Tallowax came up to town, and
she also stayed for a day or two in Munster Court. What passed between
the Dean and his aunt on the subject Mary, of course, did not hear; but
she soon found that Miss Tallowax was as eager as her father, and she
learned that Miss Tallowax had declared that the inquiry should not
languish from want of funds. Miss Tallowax was quite alive to the glory
of the Brotherton connection.

As the month drew to an end Mary, of course, called on all her London
friends. Her father was always eager to know whom she saw, and whether
any allusion was made by any of them to the scene at the ball. But
there was one person, who had been a friend, on whom she did not call,
and this omission was observed b