at Toodlam and not
trouble his head at all about me or my husband. I'm sure I shan't
trouble myself as to what a poor creature like that may think about
me. George Whitstable knows as much about London as I do about the
moon.'

'He has always been in county society,' said Sophia, 'and was staying
only the other day at Lord Cantab's.'

'Then there were two fools together,' said Georgiana, who at this
moment was very unhappy.

'Mr Whitstable is an excellent young man, and I am sure he will make
your sister happy; but as for Mr Brehgert,--I can't bear to have his
name mentioned in my hearing.'

'Then, mamma, it had better not be mentioned. At any rate it shan't be
mentioned again by me.' Having so spoken, Georgiana bounced out of the
room and did not meet her mother and sister again till she came down
into the drawing-room before dinner.

Her position was one very trying both to her nerves and to her
feelings. She presumed that her father had seen Mr Brehgert, but did
not in the least know what had passed between them. It might be that
her father had been so decided in his objection as to induce Mr
Brehgert to abandon his intention,--and if this were so, there could be
no reason why she should endure the misery of having the Jew thrown in
her face. Among them all they had made her think that she would never
become Mrs Brehgert. She certainly was not prepared to nail her
colours upon the mast and to live and die for Brehgert. She was almost
sick of the thing herself. But she could not back out of it so as to
obliterate all traces of the disgrace. Even if she should not
ultimately marry the Jew, it would be known that she had been engaged
to a Jew,--and then it would certainly be said afterwards that the
Jew had jilted her. She was thus vacillating in her mind, not knowing
whether to go on with Brehgert or to abandon him. That evening Lady
Pomona retired immediately after dinner, being 'far from well.' It was
of course known to them all that Mr Brehgert was her ailment. She was
accompanied by her elder daughter, and Georgiana was left with her
father. Not a word was spoken between them. He sat behind his
newspaper till he went to sleep, and she found herself alone and
deserted in that big room. It seemed to her that even the servants
treated her with disdain. Her own maid had already given her notice.
It was manifestly the intention of her family to ostracise her
altogether. Of what service would it be to her that Lad