en loved at Manor Cross by others than
the present Lord, and for that reason, perhaps, was dearer to him. He
had promised to go there soon after his return to England, and was now
keeping his promise. On his arrival there the Marquis found a houseful
of people. There were Mr. and Mrs. Houghton, and Lord Giblet, who,
having engaged himself rashly to Miss Patmore Green, had rushed out of
town sooner than usual that he might devise in retirement some means of
escaping from his position; and, to Lord Giblet's horror, there was
Mrs. Montacute Jones, who, he well knew, would, if possible, keep him
to the collar. There was also Aunt Julia, with her niece Guss, and of
course, there was Jack De Baron. The Marquis was rather glad to meet
Jack, as to whom he had some hope that he might be induced to run away
with Lord George's wife, and thus free the Germain family from that
little annoyance. But the guest who surprised the Marquis the most, was
the Baroness Banmann, whose name and occupation he did not at first
learn very distinctly.

"All right again, my lord?" asked Mr. De Baron, as he welcomed his
noble guest.

"Upon my word I'm not, then. That coal-heaving brute of a parson pretty
nearly did for me."

"A terrible outrage it was."

"Outrage! I should think so. There's nothing so bad as a clerical
bully. What was I to do with him? Of course he was the stronger. I
don't pretend to be a Samson. One doesn't expect that kind of thing
among gentlemen?"

"No, indeed."

"I wish I could have him somewhere with a pair of foils with the
buttons off. His black coat shouldn't save his intestines. I don't
know what the devil the country is come to, when such a fellow as that
is admitted into people's houses."

"You won't meet him here, Brotherton."

"I wish I might. I think I'd manage to be even with him before he got
away. Who's the Baroness you have got?"

"I don't know much about her. My daughter Adelaide,--Mrs. Houghton, you
know,--has brought her down. There's been some row among the women up
in London. This is one of the prophets, and I think she is brought here
to spite Lady Selina Protest who has taken an American prophetess by
the hand. She won't annoy you, I hope?"

"Not in the least. I like strange wild beasts. And so that is Captain
De Baron, of whom I have heard?"

"That is my nephew, Jack. He has a small fortune of his own, which he
is spending fast. As long as it lasts one has to be civil to him."

"I am deli