at all."

That was the decision to which Lord George came, but in that he was
soon shaken by a letter which he received from Mr. Knox. "I think if
you were to go up to London and see your brother it would have a good
effect," said Mr. Knox. In fact Mr. Knox's letter contained little more
than a petition that Lord George would pay another visit to the
Marquis. To this request, after consultation with his sister, he gave a
positive refusal.

"MY DEAR MR. KNOX," he said,

"I saw my brother less than a week ago, and the meeting was so
unsatisfactory in every respect that I do not wish to repeat it.
If he has anything to say to me as to the occupation of the house
he had better say it through you. I think, however, that my
brother should be told that though I may be subject to his freaks,
we cannot allow that my mother should be annoyed by them.

"Faithfully yours,

"GEORGE GERMAIN."

At the end of another week Mr. Knox came in person. The Marquis was
willing that his mother should live at Manor Cross,--and his sisters.
But he had,--so he said,--been insulted by his brother, and must insist
that Lord George should leave the house. If this order were not obeyed
he should at once put the letting of the place into the hands of a
house agent. Then Mr. Knox went on to explain that he was to take back
to the Marquis a definite reply. "When people are dependent on me I
choose that they shall be dependent," the Marquis had said.

Now, after a prolonged consultation to which Lady Susanna was
admitted,--so serious was the thing to be considered,--it was found to
be necessary to explain the matter to the Marchioness. Some step
clearly must be taken. They must all go, or Lord George must go. Cross
Hall was occupied, and Mr. Price was going to be married on the
strength of his occupation. A lease had been executed to Mr. Price,
which the Dowager herself had been called upon to sign. "Mamma will
never be made to understand it," said Lady Susanna.

"No one can understand it," said Lord George. Lord George insisted that
the ladies should continue to live at the large house, insinuating
that, for himself, he would take some wretched residence in the most
miserable corner of the globe, which he could find.

The Marchioness was told and really fell into a very bad way. She
literally could not understand it, and aggravated matters by appearing
to think that her younger son had been wanting