d been used. "He ought to have been a
coal-heaver instead of a clergyman," said the Marquis.

"Of course he would be angry," said Lord George.

"Nothing astonishes me so much," said the Marquis, "as the way in which
you fellows here think you may say whatever comes into your head about
my wife, because she is an Italian, and you seem to be quite surprised
if I object; yet you rage like wild beasts if the compliment is
returned. Why am I to think better of your wife than you of mine?"

"I have said nothing against your wife, Brotherton."

"By ----, I think you have said a great deal,--and with much less
reason than I have. What did you do yourself when you found her
struggling in that fellow's arms at the old woman's party?" Some
good-natured friend had told the Marquis the whole story of the
Kappa-kappa. "You can't be deaf to what all the world is saying of
her." This was wormwood to the wretched husband, and yet he could not
answer with angry, self-reliant indignation, while his brother was
lying almost motionless before him.

Lord George found that he could do nothing at Scumberg's Hotel. He was
assured that his brother was not in danger, and that the chief injury
done was to the muscles of his back, which bruised and lacerated as
they were, would gradually recover such elasticity as they had ever
possessed. But other words were said and other hints expressed, all of
which tended to increase his animosity against the Dean, and almost to
engender anger against his wife. To himself, personally, except in
regard to his wife, his brother had not been ungracious. The Marquis
intended to return to Italy as soon as he could. He hated England and
everything in it. Manor Cross would very soon be at Lord George's
disposal, "though I do hope," said the Marquis, "that the lady who has
condescended to make me her brother-in-law, will never reign paramount
there." By degrees there crept on Lord George's mind a feeling that his
brother looked to a permanent separation,--something like a
repudiation. Over and over again he spoke of Mary as though she had
disgraced herself utterly; and when Lord George defended his wife, the
lord only smiled and sneered.

The effect upon Lord George was to make him very imperious as he walked
back to Munster Court. He could not repudiate his wife, but he would
take her away with a very high hand. Crossing the Green Park, at the
back of Arlington Street, whom should he meet but Mrs. Houghton with