t him as she did,--conquering by a quick
repetition of small blows,--had not all his strength been annihilated
for the time by the persecutions of the breeches-maker.

Lady Eardham whispered to him as he was taking his departure on the
evening of the dinner in Cavendish Square. "Dear Mr. Newton,--just
one word," she said, confidentially,--"that must be a very horrid
man,"--alluding to Mr. Neefit.

"It's a horrid bore, you know, Lady Eardham."

"Just so;--and it makes me feel,--as though I didn't quite know
whether something ought not to be done. Would you mind calling at
eleven to-morrow? Of course I shan't tell Sir George,--unless you
think he ought to be told." Ralph promised that he would call, though
he felt at the moment that Lady Eardham was an interfering old fool.
Why should she want to do anything; and why should she give even a
hint as to telling Sir George? As he walked across Hanover Square and
down Bond Street to his rooms he did assert to himself plainly that
the "old harridan," as he called her, was at work for her second
girl, and he shook his head and winked his eye as he thought of
it. But, even in his solitude, he did not feel strong against Lady
Eardham, and he moved along the pavement oppressed by a half-formed
conviction that her ladyship would prevail against him. He did not,
however, think that he had any particular objection to Gus Eardham.
There was a deal of style about the girl, a merit in which either
Clarissa or Mary would have been sadly deficient. And there could be
no doubt in this,--that a man in his position ought to marry in his
own class. The proper thing for him to do was to make the daughter
of some country gentleman,--or of some nobleman, just as it might
happen,--mistress of the Priory. Dear little Clary would hardly have
known how to take her place properly down in Hampshire. And then he
thought for a moment of Polly! Perhaps, after all, fate, fashion, and
fortune managed marriage for young men better than they could manage
it for themselves. What a life would his have been had he really
married Polly Neefit! Though he did call Lady Eardham a harridan, he
resolved that he would keep his promise for the following morning.

Lady Eardham when he arrived was mysterious, eulogistic, and
beneficent. She was clearly of opinion that something should be done.
"You know it is so horrid having these kind of things said." And yet
she was almost equally strong in opinion that nothing cou