He was rushing down the stairs, thinking about his wife, swearing to himself that all this was calumny, yet confessing to himself that there must have been terrible indiscretion to make the calumny so general, when he was met on the landing by Mrs. Walker in her best silk gown. "Please, my lord, might I take the liberty of asking for one word in my own room?" Lord George followed her and heard the one word. "Please, my lord, what are we to do with the Marquis?" "Do with him!" "About his going." "Why should he go? He pays his bills, I suppose?" "Oh yes, my lord; the Marquis pays his bills. There ain't no difficulty there, my lord. He's not quite himself." "You mean in health?" "Yes, my lord;--in health. He don't give himself,--not a chance. He's out every night,--in his brougham." "I thought he was almost confined to his room?" "Out every night, my lord,--and that Courier with him on the box. When we gave him to understand that all manner of people couldn't be allowed to come here, we thought he'd go." "The Marchioness has gone?" "Oh yes;--and the poor little boy. It was bad enough when they was here, because things were so uncomfortable; but now----. I wish something could be done, my lord." Lord George could only assure her that it was out of his power to do anything. He had no control over his brother, and did not even mean to come and see him again. "Dearie me!" said Mrs. Walker; "he's a very owdacious nobleman, I fear,--is the Marquis." All this was very bad. Lord George had learned, indeed, that the Marchioness and Popenjoy were gone, and was able to surmise that the parting had not been pleasant. His brother would probably soon follow them. But what was he to do himself! He could not, in consequence of such a warning, drag his mother and sisters back to Cross Hall, into which house Mr. Price, the farmer, had already moved himself. Nor could he very well leave his mother without explaining to her why he did so. Would it be right that he should take such a threat, uttered as that had been, as a notice to quit the house? He certainly would not live in his brother's house in opposition to his brother. But how was he to obey the orders of such a madman? When he reached Brotherton he went at once to the deanery and was very glad to find his wife without her father. He did not as yet wish to renew his friendly relations with the Dean, although he had refused to pledge himself to a quarrel. He still thought it to be his duty to take his wife away from her father, and to cause her to expiate those calumnies as to De Baron by some ascetic mode of life. She had been, since his last visit, in a state of nervous anxiety about the Marquis. "How is he, George?" she asked at once. "I don't know how he is. I think he's mad." "Mad?" "He's leading a wretched life." "But his back? Is he;--is he--? I am afraid that papa is so unhappy about it! He won't say anything, but I know he is unhappy."