this matter he has done anything which had better have been left
undone. He believes that the child is not legitimate;--and so in
my heart do I.

"You must remember that my dear mother is altogether on
Brotherton's side. The feeling that there should be an heir is so
much to her, and the certainty that the boy is at any rate her
grandson, that she cannot endure that a doubt should be expressed.
Of course this does not tend to make our life pleasant down here.
Poor dear mamma! Of course we do all we can to comfort her.

"Your affectionate sister,

"SARAH GERMAIN."

CHAPTER XXX.

THE DEAN IS VERY BUSY.

A week had passed away and nothing had as yet been heard from the
Marquis, nor had Mr. Battle's confidential clerk as yet taken his
departure for Italy, when Mrs. Montacute Jones called one day in
Munster Court. Lady George had not seen her new old friend since the
night of the ball to which she had not gone, but had received more than
one note respecting her absence on that occasion, and various other
little matters. Why did not Lady George come and lunch; and why did not
Lady George come and drive? Lady George was a little afraid that there
was a conspiracy about her in reference to Captain De Baron, and that
Mrs. Montacute Jones was one of the conspirators. If so Adelaide
Houghton was certainly another. It had been very pleasant. When she
examined herself about this man, as she endeavoured to do, she declared
that it had been as innocent as pleasant. She did not really believe
that either Adelaide Houghton or Mrs. Montacute Jones had intended to
do mischief. Mischief, such as the alienation of her own affections
from her husband, she regarded as quite out of the question. She would
not even admit to herself that it was possible that she should fall
into such a pit as that. But there were other dangers; and those
friends of hers would indeed be dangerous if they brought her into any
society that made her husband jealous. Therefore, though she liked Mrs.
Montacute Jones very much, she had avoided the old lady lately, knowing
that something would be said about Jack De Baron, and not quite
confident as to her own answers.

And now Mrs. Montacute Jones had come to her. "My dear Lady George,"
she said, "where on earth have you been? Are you going to cut me? If
so, tell me at once."

"Oh, Mrs. Jones," said Lady George, kissing her, "how can you ask such
a que