From long experience of his crafty, double-dealing nature, coupled with something very near aversion to him, Lady Grace had grown to believe that in all he said or did some unseen motive lay, and she brought herself to believe that even his avaricious and miserly habits were practised still less for the sake of saving than for some ulterior and secret end. Of the wretched life they led she drew a dreary picture: a mock splendor for the world, a real misery at home; all the outward semblance of costly living, all the internal consciousness of meanness and privation. He furnished houses with magnificence, that he might let them; he set up splendid equipages, that, when seen, they should be sold. “My very emeralds,” said she, “were admired and bought by the Duchess of Windermere. It is very difficult to say that there is anything out of which he cannot extract a profit. If my ponies were praised in the park, I knew it was only the prelude to their being at Tattersall's in the morning; even the camellia which I wore in my hair was turned to advantage, for it sold the conservatory that raised it. And yet they tell me that if--they say that--I mean--I am told that the law would not construe these as cruelty, but simply a very ordinary exercise of marital authority, something unpleasant, perhaps, but not enough to warrant complaint, still less resistance.” “But they _are_ cruelties,” broke in Lady Lackington; “men in Mr. Twining's rank of life do not beat their wives--” “No, they only break their hearts,” sighed Lady Grace; “and this, I believe, is perfectly legal.” “They were doing, or going to do, something about that t' other day in the Lords. That dear old man, Lord Cloudeslie, had a bill or an amendment to somebody's bill, by which--I 'm not sure I 'm quite correct about it--but I believe it gave the wife power to take her settlement. No, that is not it; she was to be able, after five years of great cruelty--I'm afraid I have no clear recollection of its provisions, but I know the odious Chancellor said it would effectually make women independent of men.” “Of course it never will become law, then,” sighed Lady Grace, again. “Who knows, dear? They are always passing something or other they 're sorry for afterwards in either House. Shall I tell you who'd know all about it?--that Mr. Davenport Dunn. He is just the kind of person to understand these things.” “Indeed!” exclaimed Lady Grace, with more animation in her manner. “Let as ask him to dinner,” said Lady Lackington; “I know him sufficiently to do so,--that is, I have met him once. He 'll be charmed, of course; and if there is anything very good and very safe to be done on the Bourse, he 'll certainly tell us.” “I don't care for the Bourse. Indeed, I have nothing to speculate with.”