in respect to his elder
brother. And it was all that nasty Dean! And Mary must have behaved
very badly or Brotherton would not have been so severe! "Mamma," said
Lady Sarah, moved beyond her wont, "you ought not to think such things.
George has been true to you all his life, and Mary has done nothing. It
is all Brotherton's fault. When did he ever behave well? If we are to
be miserable, let us at any rate tell the truth about it." Then the
Marchioness was put to bed and remained there for two days.

At last the Dean heard of it,--first through Lady Alice, and then
directly from Lady Sarah, who took the news to the deanery. Upon which
he wrote the following letter to his son-in-law;--

"MY DEAR GEORGE,--I think your brother is not quite sane. I never
thought that he was. Since I have had the pleasure of knowing you,
especially since I have been connected with the family, he has
been the cause of all the troubles that have befallen it. It is to
be regretted that you should ever have moved back to Manor Cross,
because his temper is so uncertain, and his motives so
unchristian!

"I think I understand your position now, and will therefore not
refer to it further than to say, that when not in London I hope
you will make the deanery your home. You have your own house in
town, and when here will be close to your mother and sisters.
Anything I can do to make this a comfortable residence for you
shall be done; and it will surely go for something with you, that
a compliance with this request on your part will make another
person the happiest woman in the world.

"In such an emergency as this am I not justified in saying that
any little causes of displeasure that may have existed between you
and me should now be forgotten? If you will think of them they
really amount to nothing. For you I have the esteem of a friend
and the affection of a father-in-law. A more devoted wife than my
daughter does not live. Be a man and come to us, and let us make
much of you.

"She knows I am writing, and sends her love; but I have not told
her of the subject lest she should be wild with hope.

"Affectionately yours,

"HENRY LOVELACE."

The letter as he read it moved him to tears, but when he had finished
the reading he told himself that it was impossible. There was one
phrase in the letter which went sorely aga