e Mr
Brehgert; but he told Georgiana nothing of the interview, nor had she
the courage to ask him. The objectionable name was not mentioned again
in her father's hearing, but there was a sad scene between herself,
Lady Pomona, and her sister. When Mr Longestaffe and his younger
daughter arrived, the poor mother did not go down into the hall to
meet her child,--from whom she had that morning received the dreadful
tidings about the Jew. As to these tidings she had as yet heard no
direct condemnation from her husband. The effect upon Lady Pomona had
been more grievous even than that made upon the father. Mr Longestaffe
had been able to declare immediately that the proposed marriage was
out of the question, that nothing of the kind should be allowed, and
could take upon himself to see the Jew with the object of breaking off
the engagement. But poor Lady Pomona was helpless in her sorrow. If
Georgiana chose to marry a Jew tradesman she could not help it. But
such an occurrence in the family would, she felt, be to her as though
the end of all things had come. She could never again hold up her
head, never go into society, never take pleasure in her powdered
footmen. When her daughter should have married a Jew, she didn't think
that she could pluck up the courage to look even her neighbours Mrs
Yeld and Mrs Hepworth in the face. Georgiana found no one in the hall
to meet her, and dreaded to go to her mother. She first went with her
maid to her own room, and waited there till Sophia came to her. As she
sat pretending to watch the process of unpacking, she strove to regain
her courage. Why need she be afraid of anybody? Why, at any rate,
should she be afraid of other females? Had she not always been
dominant over her mother and sister? 'Oh, Georgey,' said Sophia, 'this
is wonderful news!'

'I suppose it seems wonderful that anybody should be going to be
married except yourself.'

'No;--but such a very odd match!'

'Look here, Sophia. If you don't like it, you need not talk about it.
We shall always have a house in town, and you will not. If you don't
like to come to us, you needn't. That's about all.'

'George wouldn't let me go there at all,' said Sophia.

'Then--George--had better keep you at home at Toodlam. Where's mamma?
I should have thought somebody might have come and met me to say a word
to me, instead of allowing me to creep into the house like this.'

'Mamma isn't at all well; but she's up in her own room. You m