to express her mind freely. "I wouldn't live in that
house, Henry, not if they was to give it me for nothing."

"They'd have to give you something to keep it up with."

"And not then, neither. Of course it's all very well having a bed that
Queen Elizabeth slept in."

"Or didn't sleep in."

"I'd teach myself to believe she did. But dear me, that isn't
everything. It nearly gave me the horrors to look at it. Room after
room,--room after room,--and nobody living in any of them."

"People can't live in more than a certain number of rooms at once,
aunt."

"Then what's the use of having them? And don't you think for the
daughters of a Marchioness they are a little what you'd call--dowdy?"

"They don't go in for dress much."

"Why, my Jemima at home, when the dirty work is done, is twice smarter
than Lady Sarah. And, Henry,--don't you think they're a little hard
upon Mary?"

"Hard upon her;--how?" The Dean had listened to the old woman's
previous criticisms with a smile; but now he was interested and turned
sharply round to her. "How hard?"

"Moping her up there among themselves; and it seemed to me they snubbed
her whenever she spoke." The Dean had not wanted his aunt's observation
to make him feel this. The tone of every syllable addressed to his girl
had caught his ear. He had been pleased to marry her into so good a
family. He had been delighted to think that by means of his prosperity
in the world his father's grand-daughter might probably become a
peeress. But he certainly had not intended that even for such a reward
as that his daughter should become submissive to the old maids at Manor
Cross. Foreseeing something of this he had stipulated that she should
have a house of her own in London; but half her time would probably be
spent in the country, and with reference to that half of her time it
would be necessary that she should be made to understand that as the
wife of Lord George she was in no respect inferior to his sisters, and
that in some respects she was their superior. "I don't see the good of
living in a big house," continued Miss Tallowax, "if all the time
everything is to be as dull as dull."

"They are older than she is, you know."

"Poor little dear! I always did say that young folk should have young
folk about 'em. Of course it's a great thing for her to have a lord for
her husband. But he looks a'most too old himself for such a pretty
darling as your Mary."

"He's only thirty-three."

"It