and frowned at her boldness in giving her opinion, especially if it happened to clash with their own. The Dowager Countess did not agree with her daughters. She thought Nora a very clever, smart and fashionable woman, and quite capable of filling the position to which her son had raised her, and supporting her title with dignity. ‘Well, I don’t agree with you, mamma,’ said Lady Blanche. ‘I consider she is far too forward in her manners with gentlemen. I’m sure the way in which Mr Portland leans over her when she is singing is quite disgusting. I wonder Ilfracombe does not take some notice of it. And what could be more undignified than her jumping up last evening to show Lord Babbage what she calls the “Boston lurch?” Such a name too. I think some of her expressions are most vulgar. I heard her tell Ilfracombe that some place they went to together was “confoundedly slow.” Fancy, a lady swearing! If those are to be the manners of the new aristocracy, commend me to the old.’ ‘Well, my dear,’ said her easy-going mother, ‘you know that times are altered from what they were. Now that so many of our noblemen are marrying American heiresses for money, you must expect to see a difference. Look at the Duke of Mussleton and Lord Tottenham! One married a music-hall singer, and the other, somebody a great deal worse! Young men will have their own way in these days. We must be thankful that Ilfracombe has chosen a nice, lady-like, intelligent girl for his wife. For my part, I like Nora, and think she will make him very happy. And,’ lowering her voice, ‘you know, my dear girls, that, considering the dreadful life he led before, and the _awful_ creature he introduced into his house, we really should be very thankful he has married at all. Mr Sterndale was afraid, at one time, that nothing would break that business off. But I feel sure Ilfracombe has forgotten all about it. He seems quite devoted to his wife.’ ‘Do you really think so, mamma?’ asked Lady Laura. ‘I think you are very short-sighted. Blanche and I have often said we were afraid he doesn’t care a pin for her. Just see how melancholy and low-spirited he seems. He goes about with a face like a hatchet. I asked Nora yesterday what on earth was the matter with him--if he were ill--and she replied she was sure she didn’t know. Such an indifferent answer, it struck me, for a young wife. But really one does not know what to make of the girls now-a-days. They are quite different from what they were a few years ago. I am sure of one thing, that Nora has no sense of the responsibility of marrying into the aristocracy. I heard her say once that she would just as soon Ilfracombe had been a tradesman!’ ‘Oh, that must have been meant for impertinence!’ exclaimed Lady Blanche. ‘What did she marry him for, then? I am sure she can’t love him. She has told me she was engaged to six men at one time. Really, mamma, her conversation at times is not fit for Laura and me to listen to.’