false, the Dean's
folly was not the less. Lord George embraced his wife, but she knew
from the touch of his arm round her waist that there was something
wrong with him.

The two men shook hands of course, and then De Baron went out,
muttering something to the Dean as to his being back to dinner. "I
can't say I like that young man," said Lord George.

"I like him very much," replied the Dean. "He is always good-humoured,
and I think he's honest. I own to a predilection for happy people."

Mary was of course soon upstairs with her husband. "I thought you would
come," she said, hanging on him.

"I did not like not to see you after the news. It is important. You
must feel that."

"Poor little boy! Don't you grieve for them."

"Yes, I do. Brotherton has treated me very badly, but I do feel for
him. I shall write to him and say so. But that will not alter the fact.
Popenjoy is dead."

"No; it will not alter the fact." He was so solemn with her that she
hardly knew how to talk to him.

"Popenjoy is dead,--if he was Popenjoy. I suppose he was; but that does
not signify now."

"Not in the least I suppose."

"And if you have a son----"

"Oh, George?"

"He won't be Popenjoy yet."

"Or perhaps ever."

"Or perhaps ever;--but a time will probably come when he will be
Popenjoy. We can't help thinking about it, you know."

"Of course not."

"I'm sure I don't want my brother to die."

"I am sure I don't."

"But the family has to be kept up. I do care about the family. They all
think at Manor Cross that you should go over at once."

"Are you going to stay there, George. Of course I will go if you are
going to stay there."

"They think you should come, though it were only for a few days."

"And then? Of course I will go, George, if you say so. I have had my
visit with papa,--as much as I had a right to expect. And, oh George, I
do so long to be with you again." Then she hung upon him and kissed
him. It must have been impossible that he should be really jealous,
though Captain De Baron had been there the whole day. Nor was he
jealous, except with that Caesarian jealousy lest she should be
unfortunate enough to cause a whisper derogatory to his marital
dignity.

The matter had been fully discussed at Manor Cross; and the Manor Cross
conclave, meaning of course Lady Sarah, had thought that Mary should be
brought to the house, if only for a day or two, if only that people in
Brothershire might know that there