."

"I have not seen him yet, but I am told that Dr. Pullbody is with him."

"What a tragedy,--if anything should happen! She has gone away; has she
not."

"I do not know. I did not ask."

"I think she has gone, and that she has taken the child with her; a
poor puny thing. I made Houghton go there to enquire, and he saw the
child. I hear from my father that we are to congratulate you."

"Things are too sad for congratulation."

"It is horrible; is it not? And Mary is with her father."

"Yes, she's at the deanery."

"Is that right?--when all this is going on?"

"I don't think anything is right," he said, gloomily.

"Has she--quarrelled with you, George?" At the sound of his Christian
name from the wife's lips he looked round at the sleeping husband. He
was quite sure that Mr. Houghton would not like to hear his wife call
him George. "He sleeps like a church," said Mrs. Houghton, in a low
voice. The two were sitting close together and Mr. Houghton's arm-chair
was at a considerable distance. The occasional knocking of the balls,
and the continued sound of voices was to be heard from the other room.
"If you have separated from her I think you ought to tell me."

"I saw her to-day as I came through."

"But she does not go to Manor Cross?"

"She has been at the deanery since she went down."

Of course this woman knew of the quarrel which had taken place in
London. Of course she had been aware that Lady George had stayed behind
in opposition to her husband's wishes. Of course she had learned every
detail as to the Kappa-kappa. She took it for granted that Mary was in
love with Jack De Baron, and thought it quite natural that she should
be so. "She never understood you as I should have done, George,"
whispered the lady. Lord George again looked at the sleeping man, who
grunted and moved, "He would hardly hear a pistol go off."

"Shouldn't I?" said the sleeping man, rubbing away the flies from his
nose. Lord George wished himself back at his club.

"Come out into the balcony," said Mrs. Houghton. She led the way and he
was obliged to follow her. There was a balcony to this house surrounded
with full-grown shrubs, so that they who stood there could hardly be
seen from the road below. "He never knows what any one is saying." As
she spoke she came close up to her visitor. "At any rate he has the
merit of never troubling me or himself by any jealousies."

"I should be very sorry to give him cause," said Lord Geor