"That's true enough, sir. Then why attempt it now?" "For your own sake. And in years to come, when time shall have brought to you sense and feeling, you will thank me for being more careful of your fair fame than you seem inclined to be yourself. I do not wish to pursue the subject, Adela; let the hint I have given you avail. Be more circumspect in your manners to young Cleveland. You know perfectly well that you are pursuing this senseless flirtation with him for one sole end--to vex me: you really care no more for him than for the wind that passes. But society, you see, not being behind the scenes, may be apt to attribute other motives to you. Change your tactics; _be true to yourself_; and then----" "And then? Well?" "I shall not be called upon to interpose my authority. To do so would be against my inclination and Charles Cleveland's interests." "_Your_ authority?" she retorted, in a blaze of scorn--for if there was one thing that put out Lady Adela more than another it was to be lectured: and she certainly did not like to be told that the world was laughing at her. "Have I ever altered my manners for any authority you could bring to bear?--do you suppose that I shall alter them now? Go and preach to your people in the City, if you must preach somewhere." "Lady Grace Chenevix," interrupted the groom of the chambers, throwing wide the door. "You are all in the dark!" exclaimed Grace. "I took the chance of finding you at home, Adela. Mamma and Harriet are gone to the Dowager Cust's." "I am glad you came, Grace," said Mr. Grubb, ringing for lights. "I wanted to look in at the club for half-an-hour: you will stay with Lady Adela." "Grace," to his sister-in-law, "_Lady_ Adela" to his wife: what did that tell? Anyway, it told that he had been provoked almost beyond bearing. "Mary came up this afternoon, taking us by surprise," began Grace, as Mr. Grubb left the room, and the man retired after lighting the wax-lights. "She does not seem strong; and the baby is such a poor little thing----" "Pray are you a party to this conspiracy between my mother and him?" unceremoniously interposed Adela, with a motion of her hand towards the door by which her husband had disappeared, to indicate whom she meant; and the words were the first she had condescended to speak to her sister since her entrance. "Conspiracy! I don't know of any," answered Grace, wondering what was coming. "Had you been a few moments earlier, you would have found him holding forth about Charley Cleveland. And he said my mother went to him in the City today to put him up to it." "Oh, if you mean about Charley Cleveland, I was going to speak to you of it myself. You are getting quite absurd about him, Adela. Or he is about you. It was said at Brookes's the other day that Charley Cleveland was losing his head for Lady Adela Grubb." Lady Adela laughed. "Who said it, Gracie?"