Adelaide certainly would not have suited the
air of Manor Cross, or have associated well with Lady Sarah.

On the next day the Marchioness and Ladies Susannah and Amelia drove
over to the deanery in great state, to call on Miss Tallowax, and to
take Lady George back to Manor Cross. Miss Tallowax enjoyed the company
of the Marchioness greatly. She had never seen a lady of that rank
before. "Only think how I must feel," she said to her niece, that
morning, "I, that never spoke to any one above a baronet's lady in my
life."

"I don't think you'll find much difference," said Mary.

"You're used to it. You're one of them yourself. You're above a
baronet's lady,--ain't you, my dear?"

"I have hardly looked into all that as yet, aunt." There must surely
have been a little fib in this, or the Dean's daughter must have been
very much unlike other young ladies.

"I suppose I ought to be afraid of you, my dear; only you are so nice
and so pretty. And as for Lord George, he was quite condescending."
Lady George knew that praise was intended, and therefore made no
objection to the otherwise objectionable epithet.

The visit of the Marchioness was passed over with the less disturbance
to Miss Tallowax because it was arranged that she was to be taken over
to lunch at Manor Cross on the following day. Lord George had said a
word, and Lady Sarah had consented, though, as a rule, Lady Sarah did
not like the company of vulgar people. The peasants of the parish, down
to the very poorest of the poor, were her daily companions. With them
she would spend hours, feeling no inconvenience from their language or
habits. But she did not like gentlefolk who were not gentle. In days
now long gone by, she had only assented to the Dean, because holy
orders are supposed to make a gentleman; for she would acknowledge a
bishop to be as grand a nobleman as any, though he might have been born
the son of a butcher. But nobility and gentry cannot travel backwards,
and she had been in doubt about Miss Tallowax. But even with the Lady
Sarah a feeling has made its way which teaches them to know that they
must submit to some changes. The thing was to be regretted, but Lady
Sarah knew that she was not strong enough to stand quite alone. "You
know she is very rich," the Marchioness had said in a whisper; "and if
Brotherton marries, your poor brother will want it so badly."

"That ought not to make any difference, mamma," said Lady Sarah.
Whether it did ma