her side almost mute, not quite knowing
whether he ought to be offended with her or to take her part. It was
true that he would not have liked her to look like Lady Sarah, but he
would have liked her to make some approach in that direction,
sufficient to show submission. He was already beginning to fear the
absence of all control which would befall his young wife in that London
life to which, she was to be so soon introduced, and was meditating
whether he could not induce one of his sisters to accompany them. As to
Sarah he was almost hopeless. Amelia would be of little or no service,
though she would be more likely to ingratiate herself with his wife
than the others. Susanna was less strong than Sarah and less amiable
than Amelia. And then, how would it be if Mary were to declare that she
would rather begin the campaign without any of them?

The young wife, as soon as she found herself alone in her own bedroom,
sat down and resolved that she would never allow herself to be
domineered by her husband's sisters. She would be submissive to him in
all things, but his authority should not be delegated to them.

CHAPTER VI.

BAD TIDINGS.

About the middle of October, there came a letter from the Marquis of
Brotherton to his brother, which startled them all at Manor Cross very
much indeed. In answering Lord George's communication as to the
marriage, the Marquis had been mysterious and disagreeable;--but then
he was always disagreeable and would on occasions take the trouble to
be mysterious also. He had warned his brother that he might himself
want the house at Manor Cross; but he had said the same thing
frequently during his residence in Italy, being always careful to make
his mother and sisters understand that they might have to take
themselves away any day at a very short warning. But now the short
warning had absolutely come, and had come in such a shape as to upset
everything at Manor Cross, and to upset many things at the Brotherton
Deanery. The letter was as follows:--

"My dear George,

"I am to be married to the Marchesa Luigi. Her name is Catarina
Luigi, and she is a widow. As to her age, you can ask herself when
you see her, if you dare. I haven't dared. I suppose her to be ten
years younger than myself. I did not expect that it would be so,
but she says now that she would like to live in England. Of course
I've always meant to go back myself some day. I don't suppo