hat the Marquis would be regarded as less of an ogre in the
country if it were known that he had had communication with one of the
family without quarrelling with her. "So you're come here," he said.

"I didn't know that people so pious would enter De Baron's doors."

"Mr. De Baron is a very old friend of the Canon's. I hope he isn't very
wicked, and I'm afraid we are not very pious."

"If you don't object, of course I don't. So they've all gone back to
the old house?"

"Mamma is there."

"And George?" he asked in a sharp tone.

"And George,--at present."

"George is, I think, the biggest fool I ever came across in my life. He
is so cowed by that man whose daughter he has married that he doesn't
know how to call his soul his own."

"I don't think that, Brotherton. He never goes to the deanery to stay
there."

"Then what makes him quarrel with me? He ought to know which side his
bread is buttered."

"He had a great deal of money with her, you know."

"If he thinks his bread is buttered on that side, let him stick to that
side and say so. I will regard none of my family as on friendly terms
with me who associate with the Dean of Brotherton or his daughter after
what took place up in London." Lady Alice felt this to be a distinct
threat to herself, but she allowed it to pass by without notice. She
was quite sure that the Canon would not quarrel with the Dean out of
deference to his brother-in-law. "The fact is they should all have gone
away as I told them, and especially when George had married the girl
and got her money. It don't make much difference to me, but it will
make a deal to him."

"How is Popenjoy, Brotherton?" asked Lady Alice, anxious to change the
conversation.

"I don't know anything about him."

"What!"

"He has gone back to Italy with his mother. How can I tell? Ask the
Dean. I don't doubt that he knows all about him. He has people
following them about, and watching every mouthful they eat."

"I think he has given all that up."

"Not he. He'll have to, unless he means to spend more money than I
think he has got."

"George is quite satisfied about Popenjoy now," said Lady Alice.

"I fancy George didn't like the expense. But he began it, and I'll
never forgive him. I fancy it was he and Sarah between them. They'll
find that they will have had the worst of it. The poor little beggar
hadn't much life in him. Why couldn't they wait?"

"Is it so bad as that, Brotherton?"

"They tell