The ladies sat a long time after dinner, and when they went Mrs. Houghton asked her husband to come up in ten minutes. They did not remain much longer, but during those ten minutes Guss Mildmay said something of her wrongs to her friend, and Lady George heard some news from Miss Houghton. Miss Houghton had got Lady George on to a sofa, and was talking to her about Brotherton and Manor Cross. "So the Marquis is coming," she said. "I knew the Marquis years ago, when we used to be staying with the De Barons, – Adelaide's father and mother. She was alive then, and the Marquis used to come over there. So he has married?"
"Yes; an Italian."
"I did not think he would ever marry. It makes a difference to you; – does it not?"
"I don't think of such things."
"You will not like him, for he is the very opposite to Lord George."
"I don't know that I shall ever even see him. I don't think he wants to see any of us."
"I dare say not. He used to be very handsome, and very fond of ladies' society, – but, I think, the most selfish human being I ever knew in my life. That is a complaint that years do not cure. He and I were great friends once."
"Did you quarrel?"
"Oh, dear no. I had rather a large fortune of my own, and there was a time in which he was, perhaps, a little in want of money. But they had to build a town on his property in Staffordshire, and you see that did instead."
"Did instead!" said Lady George, altogether in the dark.
"There was suddenly a great increase to his income, and, of course, that altered his view. I am bound to say that he was very explicit. He could be so without suffering himself, or understanding that any one else would suffer. I tell you because you are one of the family, and would, no doubt, hear it all some day through Adelaide. I had a great escape."
"And he a great misfortune," said Mary civilly.
"I think he had, to tell you the truth. I am good-tempered, long-suffering, and have a certain grain of sagacity that might have been useful to him. Have you heard about this Italian lady?"
"Only that she is an Italian lady."
"He is about my age. If I remember rightly there is hardly a month or two between us. She is three or four years older."
"You knew her then?"
"I knew of her. I have been curious enough to enquire, which is, I dare say, more than any body has done at Manor Cross."
"And is she so old?"
"And a widow. They have been married, you know, over twelve months; nearly two years, I believe."
"Surely not; we heard of it only since our own marriage."
"Exactly; but the Marquis was always fond of a little mystery. It was the news of your marriage that made him hint at the possibility of such a thing; and he did not tell the fact till he had made up his mind to come home. I do not know that he has told all now."
"What else is there?"
"She has a baby, – a boy." Mary felt that the colour flew to her cheeks; but she knew that it did so, not from any disappointment of her own, not because these tidings were in truth a blow to her, but because others, – this lady, for instance, – would think that she suffered. "I am afraid it is so," said Miss Houghton.
"She may have twenty, for what I care," said Mary, recovering herself.
"I think Lord George ought to know."
"Of course I shall tell him what you told me. I am sorry that he is not nice, that's all. I should have liked a brother-in-law that I could have loved. And I wish he had married an English woman. I think English women are best for English men."
"I think so too. I am afraid you will none of you like the lady. She cannot speak a word of English. Of course you will use my name in telling Lord George. I heard it all from a friend of mine who is married to one of the Secretaries at the Embassy." Then the gentlemen came in, and Mary began to be in a hurry to get away that she might tell this news to her husband.
In the meantime Guss Mildmay made her complaints, deep but not loud. She and Mrs. Houghton had been very intimate as girls, knew each other's secrets, and understood each other's characters. "Why did you have him to such a party as this?" said Guss.
"I told you he was coming."
"But you didn't tell me about that young woman. You put him next to her on purpose to annoy me."
"That's nonsense. You know as well as I do that nothing can come of it. You must drop it, and you'd better do it at once. You don't want to be known as the girl who is dying for the love of a man she can't marry. That's not your métier."
"That's my own affair. If I choose to stick to him you, at least, ought not to cross me."
"But he won't stick to you. Of course he's my cousin, and I don't see why he's to be supposed never to say a word to anyone else, when it's quite understood that you're not going to have one another. What's the good of being a dog in the manger?"
"Adelaide, you never had any heart!"
"Of course not; – or, if I had, I knew how to get the better of so troublesome an appendage. I hate hearing about hearts. If he'd take you to-morrow you wouldn't marry him?"
"Yes, I would."
"I don't believe it. I don't think you'd be so wicked. Where would you live, and how? How long would it be before you hated each other? Hearts! As if hearts weren't just like anything else which either you can or you cannot afford yourself. Do you think I couldn't go and fall in love to-morrow, and think it the best fun in the world? Of course it's nice to have a fellow like Jack always ready to spoon, and sending one things, and riding with one, and all that. I don't know any young woman in London would like it better than I should. But I can't afford it, my dear, and so I don't do it."
"It seems to me you are going to do it with your old lover?"
"Dear Lord George! I swear it's only to bring Mary down a peg, because she is so proud of her nobleman. And then he is handsome! But, my dear, I've pleased myself. I have got a house over my head, and a carriage to sit in, and servants to wait on me, and I've settled myself. Do you do likewise, and you shall have your Lord George, or Jack De Baron, if he pleases; – only don't go too far with him."
"Adelaide," said the other, "I'm not good, but you're downright bad." Mrs. Houghton only laughed, as she got up from her seat to welcome the gentlemen as they entered the room.
Mary, as soon as the door of the brougham had been closed upon her, and her husband, began to tell her story. "What do you think Miss Houghton has told me?" Lord George, of course, could have no thoughts about it, and did not at first very much care what the story might have been. "She says that your brother was married ever so long ago!"
"I don't believe it," said Lord George, suddenly and angrily.
"A year before we were married, I mean."
"I don't believe it."
"And she says that they have a son."
"What!"
"That there is a baby, – a boy. She has heard it all from some friend of hers at Rome."
"It can't be true."
"She said that I had better tell you. Does it make you unhappy, George?" To this he made no immediate answer. "What can it matter whether he was married two months ago or two years? It does not make me unhappy;" as she said this,