had been no quarrel between her and
her husband. That she should have visited her father might be
considered as natural. It need not be accounted as quite unnatural that
she should have done so without her husband. But now,--now it was
imperative that Brothershire should know that the mother of the future
Lord Popenjoy was on good terms with the family. "Of course her
position is very much altered," Lady Susanna had said in private to
Lady Amelia. The old Marchioness felt a real longing to see "dear
Mary," and to ask becoming questions as to her condition. And it was
quite understood that she was not to be required to make any cloaks or
petticoats. The garments respecting which she must be solicitous for
the next six months would, as the Marchioness felt, be of a very august
nature. Oh, that the future baby might be born at Manor Cross! The
Marchioness did not see why Lord George should leave the house at all.
Brotherton couldn't know anything about it in Italy, and if George must
go, Mary might surely be left there for the event. The Marchioness
declared that she could die happy if she might see another Popenjoy
born in the purple of Manor Cross.

"When am I to go?" asked Mary. She was sitting now close to him, and
the question was asked with full delight.

"I do not know whether you can be ready to-morrow."

"Of course I can be ready to-morrow. Oh George, to be back with you!
Even for ten days it seems to be a great happiness. But if you go, then
of course you will take me with you." There was a reality about this
which conquered him, even in spite of Captain De Baron, so that he came
down to dinner in good-humour with the world.

CHAPTER LVI.

SIR HENRY SAID IT WAS THE ONLY THING.

The dinner at the deanery went off without much excitement. Captain De
Baron would of course have preferred that Lord George should have
remained at Manor Cross, but under no circumstances could he have had
much more to say to the lady. They understood each other now. He was
quite certain that any evil thing spoken of her had been sheer slander,
and yet he had managed to tell her everything of himself without
subjecting himself to her undying anger. When she left the
drawing-room, the conversation turned again upon the great Popenjoy
question, and from certain words which fell from the Dean, Jack was
enabled to surmise that Lord George had reason to hope that an heir
might be born to him. "He does not look as though he would