"She has insulted me. She has said things so nasty that I cannot repeat them, even to you. She has accused me to my face--of flirting. I won't bear it from her. If you said it, it would kill me; but of course you can say what you please. But she shall not scold me, and tell me that I am this and that because I am not as solemn as she is, George. Do you believe that I have ever--flirted?" She was so impetuous that he had been quite unable to stop her. "Did you mean that she should behave to me like that?" "This is very bad," he said. "What is very bad. Is it not bad that she should say such things to me as that? Are you going to take her part against me?" "Dearest Mary, you seem to be excited." "Of course I am excited. Would you wish me to have such things as that said to me, and not to be excited? You are not going to take part against me?" "I have not heard her yet." "Will you believe her against me? Will she be able to make you believe that I have--flirted? If so, then it is all over." "What is all over?" "Oh, George, why did you marry me, if you cannot trust me?" "Who says that I do not trust you? I suppose the truth is you have been a little--flighty." "Been what? I suppose you mean the same thing. I have talked and laughed, and been amused, if that means being flighty. She thinks it wicked to laugh, and calls it slang if every word doesn't come out of the grammar. You had better go and hear her, since you will say nothing more to me." Lord George thought so too; but he stayed for a few moments in the dining-room, during which he stooped over his wife, who had thrown herself into an arm-chair, and kissed her. As he did so, she merely shook her head, but made no response to his caress. Then he slowly strode away, and went up stairs into the drawing-room. What took place there need not be recorded at length. Lady Susanna did not try to be mischievous. She spoke much of Mary's youth, and expressed a strong opinion that Captain De Baron was not a fit companion for her. She was very urgent against the use of slang, and said almost harder things of Mrs. Houghton than she did of Jack. She never had meant to imply that Mary had allowed improper attentions from the gentleman, but that Mary, being young, had not known what attentions were proper and what improper. To Lady Susanna the whole matter was so serious that she altogether dropped the personal quarrel. "Of course, George," she said, "young people do not like to be told; but it has to be done. And I must say that Mary likes it as little as any person that I have ever known."