ly have learned the names of all
those artists on the base of the Memorial, as she might so easily have
done, there would have been something in it. A lady ought to know, at
any rate, the names of such men. But she had allowed this Jack to make
a joke of it all, and had rather liked the joke. And the Dean had
laughed loud,--more like the son of a stable-keeper than a Dean. Lord
George was almost more angry with the Dean than with his wife. The
Dean, when at Brotherton, did maintain a certain amount of dignity; but
here, up in London, he seemed to be intent only on "having a good
time," like some schoolboy out on a holiday.

"Were you not a little loud when you were on the steps of the
Memorial?" he said.

"I hope not, George; not too loud."

"A lady should never be in the least loud, nor for the matter of that
would a gentleman either if he knew what he was about."

She walked on a little way, leaning on his arm in silence, considering
whether he meant anything by what he was saying, and how much he meant.
She felt almost sure that he did mean something disagreeable, and that
he was scolding her. "I don't quite know what you mean by loud, George?
We were talking, and of course wanted to make each other hear. I
believe with some people loud means--vulgar. I hope you didn't mean
that."

He certainly would not tell his wife that she was vulgar. "There is,"
he said, "a manner of talking which leads people on to--to--being
boisterous."

"Boisterous, George? Was I boisterous?"

"I think your father was a little."

She felt herself blush beneath her veil as she answered. "Of course if
you tell me anything about myself, I will endeavour to do as you tell
me; but, as for papa, I am sure he knows how to behave himself. I don't
think he ought to be found fault with because he likes to amuse
himself."

"And that Captain De Baron was very loud," said Lord George, conscious
that though his ground might be weak in reference to the Dean, he could
say what he pleased about Jack De Baron.

"Young men do laugh and talk, don't they, George?"

"What they do in their barracks, or when they are together, is nothing
to you or me. What such a one may do when he is in company with my wife
is very much to me, and ought to be very much to you."

"George," she said, again pausing for a moment, "do you mean to tell me
that I have misbehaved myself? Because, if so, speak it out at once."

"My dear, that is a foolish question for you