be back at
Manor Cross next year. Of course we should be very sorry to be in
your way, but we should not like to give up Cross Hall till we
know that it will not be wanted again.

"I hope you are getting better. I could of course come up to town
at a moment's notice, if you wished to see me.

"Yours affectionately,

"GEORGE GERMAIN."

There was nothing in this letter which ought to have made any brother
angry, but the answer which came to it certainly implied that the
Marquis had received it with dudgeon.

"MY DEAR GEORGE," the Marquis said,

"I can give you no guarantee that I shall not want Manor Cross
again, and you ought not to expect it. If you and the family go
there of course I must have rent for Cross Hall. I don't suppose
I shall ever recover altogether from the injury that cursed brute
did me.

"Yours, 'B.'

"As to your coming family of course I can say nothing. You won't
expect me to be very full of joy. Nevertheless, for the honour of
the family, I hope it is all right."

There was a brutality about this which for a time made the expectant
father almost mad. He tore the letter at once into fragments, so that
he might be ready with an answer if asked to show it to his sisters.
Lady Sarah had known of his writing, and did ask as to her brother's
answer. "Of course he told me nothing," said Lord George. "He is not
like any other brother that ever lived."

"May I see his letter?"

"I have destroyed it. It was not fit to be seen. He will not say
whether he means to come back next year or not."

"I would not stir, if it were for me to determine," said Lady Sarah.
"Nobody ever ought to live in another person's house as long as he has
one of his own;--and of all men certainly not in Brotherton's."
Nevertheless, the migration went on, and early in July the Marchioness
was once more in possession of her own room at Manor Cross, and Mrs.
Toff was once again in the ascendant.

But what was to be done about Mary? Had Popenjoy been reported to enjoy
robust health, and had Mary been as Mary was a month or two since, the
Marchioness and Lady Susanna would have been contented that the present
separation should have been permanent. They would at any rate have
taken no steps to put an end to it which would not have implied abject
submission on Mary's part. But now things were so altered! If this
Popenjoy should die, and if M