“And when the cathedral is built,” said Miss Arundel “what then?” “Do you not remember telling me at Vauxe that all sacred buildings should be respected, for that in the long-run they generally fell to the professors of the true faith?” “But when they built St. Peter’s, they dedicated it to a saint in heaven,” said Miss Arundel. “To whom is yours to be inscribed?” “To a saint in heaven and in earth,” said Lothair, blushing; “to St. Clare.” But Lady St. Jerome and her guests rose at this moment, and it is impossible to say with precision whether this last remark of Lothair absolutely reached the ear of Miss Arundel. She looked as if it had not. The priests and the other guests dispersed. Lothair accompanied the ladies to the drawing-room; he lingered, and he was meditating if the occasion served to say more. Lady St. Jerome was writing a note, Mss Arundel was arranging some work, Lothair was affecting an interest in her employment in order that he might be seated by her and ask her questions, when the groom of the chambers entered and inquired whether her ladyship was at home, and being answered in the affirmative, retired, and announced and ushered in the duchess and Lady Corisande. CHAPTER 19 It seemed that the duchess and Lady St. Jerome were intimate, for they called each other by their Christian names, and kissed each other. The young ladies also were cordial. Her grace greeted Lothair with heartiness; Lady Corisande with some reserve. Lothair thought she looked very radiant and very proud. It was some time since they had all met—not since the end of the last season—so there was a great deal to talk about. There had been deaths and births and marriages which required a flying comment—all important events; deaths which solved many difficulties, heirs to estates which were not expected, and weddings which surprised everybody. “And have you seen Selina?” inquired Lady St. Jerome. “Not yet; except mamma, this is our first visit,” replied the duchess. “Ah! that is real friendship. She came down to Vauxe the other day, but I did not think she was looking well. She frets herself too much about her boys; she does not know what to do with them. They will not go into the Church, and they have no fortune for the Guards.” “I understood that Lord Plantagenet was to be a civil engineer,” said Lady Corisande. “And Lord Albert Victor to have a sheep-walk in Australia,” continued Lady St. Jerome. “They say that a lord must not go to the bar,” said Miss Arundel. “It seems to me very unjust.” “Alfred Beaufort went the circuit,” said Lady Corisande, “but I believe they drove him into Parliament.” “You will miss your friend Bertram at Oxford,” said the duchess, addressing Lothair. “Indeed,” said Lothair, rather confused, for he was himself a defaulter in collegiate attendance. “I was just going to write to him to see whether one could not keep half a term.”