"Poor little dear! I always did say that young folk should have young folk about 'em. Of course it's a great thing for her to have a lord for her husband. But he looks a'most too old himself for such a pretty darling as your Mary." "He's only thirty-three." "It's in the looks, I suppose, because he's so grand. But it's that Lady Sarah puzzles me. It isn't in her looks, and yet she has it all in her own way. Well;--I liked going there, and I'm glad I've been; but I don't know as I shall ever want to go again." Then there was silence for some time; but as the brougham was driven into Brotherton Miss Tallowax spoke again. "I don't suppose an old woman like me can ever be of any use, and you'll always be at hand to look after her. But if ever she should want an outing, just to raise her spirits, old as I am, I think I could make it brighter for her than it is there." The Dean took her hand and pressed it, and then there was no more said. When the brougham was driven away Lord George took his wife for a walk in the park. She was still struggling hard to be in love with him, never owning failure to herself, and sometimes assuring herself that she had succeeded altogether. Now, when he asked her to come with him, she put on her hat joyfully, and joined her hands over his arm as she walked away with him into the shrubbery. "She's a wonderful old woman;--is not she, George?" "Not very wonderful." "Of course you think she's vulgar." "I didn't say so." "No; you're too good to say so, because she's papa's aunt. But she's very good. Don't you think she's very good?" "I dare say she is. I don't know that I run into superlatives quite so much as you do." "She has brought me such a handsome present. I could not show it you before them all just now, and it only came down from London this morning. She did not say a word about it before. Look here." Then she slipped her glove off and showed him a diamond ring. "You should not wear that out of doors." "I only put it on to show you. Wasn't it good of her? 'Young people of rank ought to wear nice things,' she said, as she gave it me. Wasn't it an odd thing for her to say? and yet I understood her." Lord George frowned, thinking that he also understood the old woman's words, and reminding himself that the ladies of rank at Manor Cross never did wear nice things. "Don't you think it was nice?" "Of course she is entitled to make you a present if she pleases." "It pleased me, George." "I dare say, and as it doesn't displease me all is well. You, however, have quite sense enough to understand, that in this house more is thought of--of--of--" he would have said blood, but that he did not wish to hurt her,--"more is thought of personal good conduct than of rings and jewels." "Rings and jewels, and--personal conduct may go together; mayn't they?" "Of course they may." "And very often do. You won't think my--personal conduct--will be injured because I wear my aunt's ring?"