been kept as far as possible
from their mother. They had remarked among themselves that it was very
odd that the marriage should have been concealed, and almost more than
odd that an heir to the title should have been born without any
announcement of such a birth. A dread of some evil mystery had filled
their thoughts, and shown itself in their words and looks to each
other. And, though they had been very anxious to keep this from their
mother, something had crept through which had revealed a suspicion of
the suspicion even to her. She, dear old lady, had resolved upon no
line of conduct in the matter. She had conceived no project of
rebelling against her eldest daughter, or of being untrue to her
youngest son. But now that she was alone with her eldest son, with the
real undoubted Marquis, with him who would certainly be to her more
than all the world beside if he would only allow it, there did come
into her head an idea that she would put him on his guard.

"Because,--because----"

"Because what? Speak out, mother."

"Because, perhaps they'll say that--that----"

"What will they say?"

"If they don't see him, they may think he isn't Popenjoy at all."

"Oh! they'll think that, will they? How will seeing help them?"

"It would be so nice to have him here, if it's only for a little," said
the Marchioness.

"So that's it," he said, after a long pause. "That's George's game, and
the Dean's; I can understand."

"No, no, no; not George," said the unhappy mother.

"And Sarah, I dare say, is in a boat with them. I don't wonder that
they should choose to remain here and watch me."

"I am sure George has never thought of such a thing."

"George will think as his father-in-law bids him. George was never very
good at thinking for himself. So you fancy they'll be more likely to
accept the boy if they see him."

"Seeing is believing, Brotherton."

"There's something in that, to be sure. Perhaps they don't think I've
got a wife at all, because they haven't seen her."

"Oh, yes; they believe that."

"How kind of them. Well, mother, you've let the cat out of the bag."

"Don't tell them that I said so."

"No; I won't tell. Nor am I very much surprised. I thought how it would
be when I didn't announce it all in the old-fashioned way. It's lucky
that I have the certificated proof of the date of my marriage, isn't
it?"

"It's all right, of course. I never doubted it, Brotherton."

"But all the others did. I knew