e self-possession; but Lady Joan wanted
softness, and Lady Maud repose.

This was the result of the rapid observation of Egremont, who was
however experienced in the world and quick in his detection of manner
and of character.

The dinner was stately, as becomes the high nobility. There were many
guests, yet the table seemed only a gorgeous spot in the capacious
chamber. The side tables were laden with silver vases and golden shields
arranged on shelves of crimson velvet. The walls were covered with
Fitz-Warenes, De Mowbrays, and De Veres. The attendants glided about
without noise, and with the precision of military discipline. They
watched your wants, they anticipated your wishes, and they supplied all
you desired with a lofty air of pompous devotion.

"You came by the railroad?" enquired Lord de Mowbray mournfully, of Lady
Marney.

"From Marham; about ten miles from us," replied her ladyship.

"A great revolution!"

"Isn't it?"

"I fear it has a very dangerous tendency to equality," said his lordship
shaking his head; "I suppose Lord Marney gives them all the opposition
in his power."

"There is nobody so violent against railroads as George," said Lady
Marney; "I cannot tell you what he does not do! He organized the whole
of our division against the Marham line!"

"I rather counted on him," said Lord de Mowbray, "to assist me in
resisting this joint branch here; but I was surprised to learn he had
consented."

"Not until the compensation was settled," innocently remarked Lady
Marney; "George never opposes them after that. He gave up all opposition
to the Marham line when they agreed to his terms."

"And yet," said Lord de Mowbray, "I think if Lord Marney would take a
different view of the case and look to the moral consequences, he would
hesitate. Equality, Lady Marney, equality is not our metier. If we
nobles do not make a stand against the levelling spirit of the age, I
am at a loss to know who will fight the battle. You many depend upon it
that these railroads are very dangerous things."

"I have no doubt of it. I suppose you have heard of Lady Vanilla's trip
from Birmingham? Have you not, indeed! She came up with Lady Laura, and
two of the most gentlemanlike men sitting opposite her; never met, she
says, two more intelligent men. She begged one of them at Wolverhampton
to change seats with her, and he was most politely willing to comply
with her wishes, only it was necessary that his companion shou