ce to the
heir of the family. It was manifest that she intended to accept the new
Popenjoy, and to ally herself with no party base enough to entertain
any suspicion.

These examinations respecting the baby went on for the three first days
of the week. It was Lord George's intention to return to town on the
Saturday, and it seemed to them all to be necessary that something
should be arranged before that. Lady Sarah thought that direct
application should be made to her brother for proof of his marriage and
for a copy of the register of the birth of his child. She quite
admitted that he would resent such application with the bitterest
enmity. But that she thought must be endured. She argued that nothing
could be done more friendly to the child than this. If all was right
the enquiry which circumstances certainly demanded would be made while
he could not feel it. If no such proof were adduced now there would
certainly be trouble, misery, and perhaps ruin in coming years. If the
necessary evidence were forthcoming, then no one would wish to
interfere further. There might be ill blood on their brother's part,
but there would be none on theirs. Neither Lord George nor their
younger sister gainsayed this altogether. Neither of them denied the
necessity of enquiry. But they desired to temporise;--and then how was
the enquiry to be made? Who was to bell the cat? And how should they go
on when the Marquis refused to take any heed of them,--as, of course,
he would do? Lady Sarah saw at once that they must employ a
lawyer;--but what lawyer? Old Mr. Stokes, the family attorney, was the
only lawyer they knew. But Mr. Stokes was Lord Brotherton's lawyer, and
would hardly consent to be employed against his own client. Lady Sarah
suggested that Mr. Stokes might be induced to explain to the Marquis
that these enquiries should be made for his, the Marquis's, own
benefit. But Lord George felt that this was impossible. It was evident
that Lord George would be afraid to ask Mr. Stokes to undertake the
work.

At last it came to be understood among them that they must have some
friend to act with them. There could be no doubt who that friend should
be. "As to interfering," said Lady Sarah, speaking of the Dean, "he
will interfere, whether we ask him to or not. His daughter is as much
affected as anybody, and if I understand him he is not the man to see
any interest of his own injured by want of care." Lord George shook his
head but yielded.