There was an agreeable irony in this; for the Baronet knew that they had never agreed very well together, and that neither spoke very handsomely of the other behind her back. At the same time, this was no conclusive proof of unkindness on Lady Alice's part, for her goodwill sometimes showed itself under strange and uncomfortable disguises. "Beatrix, dear, I hope they are seeing to your grandmamma's room; and you'll want candles, it is growing dark. Altogether I'm afraid you're very uncomfortable, little mother; but if _you_ prefer it, you know, of course I'm silent." With these words he kissed the old lady's chilly cheek, and vanished. As he ran down the darkening stairs the Baronet was smiling mischievously; and when, having made his long straight journey to the foot of the back stairs, he re-ascended, and passing through the two little ante-rooms, entered his own homely bedchamber, and looked at his handsome and wonderfully preserved face in the glass, he laughed outright two or three comfortable explosions at intervals, and was evidently enjoying some fun in anticipation. When, a few minutes later, that proud sad beauty, Lady Jane, followed by her maid, sailed rustling into the Window dressing-room--I call it so in preference--and there saw, by the light of a pair of wax candles, a stately figure seated on the sofa at the further end in grey silk draperies, with its feet on a boss, she paused in an attitude of sublime surprise, with just a gleam of defiance in it. "How d' y' do, Jenny, my dear?" said a voice, on which, as on the tones of an old piano, a few years had told a good deal, but which she recognised with some little surprise, for notwithstanding Lady Alice's note accepting the Baronet's invitation, he had talked and thought of her actually coming to Marlowe as a very unlikely occurrence indeed. "Oh! oh! Lady Alice Redcliffe!" exclaimed the young wife, setting down her bed-room candle, and advancing with a transitory smile to her old kinswoman, who half rose from her throne and kissed her on the cheek as she stooped to meet her salutation. "You have only arrived a few minutes; I saw your carriage going round from the door." "About forty minutes--hardly an hour. How you have filled up, Jane; you're quite an imposing figure since I saw you. I don't think it unbecoming; your _embonpoint_ does very well; and you're quite well?" "_Very_ well--and you?" "I'm pretty well, dear, a good deal fatigued; and so you're a wife, Jennie, and very happy, I hope." "I can't say I have anything to trouble me. I am quite happy, that is, as happy as other people, I suppose." "I hear nothing but praises of your husband. I shall be so happy to make his acquaintance," continued Lady Alice. "He has had to go up to town about business this morning, but he's to return very soon." "How soon, dear?" "In a day or two," answered the young wife. "To-morrow?" inquired Lady Alice, drily. "Or next day," rejoined Lady Jane, with a little stare.