"By Jove!" said the Honourable George to his cousin, Mr. Gresham, "I wonder how Dumbello likes it." "It seems to me that Dumbello takes it very easily." "There are some men who will take anything easily," said George, who, since his own marriage, had learned to have a holy horror of such wicked things. "She's beginning to come out a little," said Lady Clandidlem to Lady De Courcy, when the two old women found themselves together over a fire in some back sitting-room. "Still waters always run deep, you know." "I shouldn't at all wonder if she were to go off with him," said Lady De Courcy. "He'll never be such a fool as that," said Lady Clandidlem. "I believe men will be fools enough for anything," said Lady De Courcy. "But, of course, if he did, it would come to nothing afterwards. I know one who would not be sorry. If ever a man was tired of a woman, Lord Dumbello is tired of her." But in this, as in almost everything else, the wicked old woman spoke scandal. Lord Dumbello was still proud of his wife, and as fond of her as a man can be of a woman whose fondness depends upon mere pride. There had not been much that was dangerous in the conversation between Mr. Palliser and Lady Dumbello, but I cannot say the same as to that which was going on at the same moment between Crosbie and Lady Alexandrina. She, as I have said, walked away in almost open dudgeon when Lady Julia recommenced her attack about poor Lily, nor did she return to the general circle during the evening. There were two large drawing-rooms at Courcy Castle, joined together by a narrow link of a room, which might have been called a passage, had it not been lighted by two windows coming down to the floor, carpeted as were the drawing-rooms, and warmed with a separate fireplace. Hither she betook herself, and was soon followed by her married sister Amelia. "That woman almost drives me mad," said Alexandrina, as they stood together with their toes upon the fender. "But, my dear, you of all people should not allow yourself to be driven mad on such a subject." "That's all very well, Amelia." "The question is this, my dear,--what does Mr. Crosbie mean to do?" "How should I know?" "If you don't know, it will be safer to suppose that he is going to marry this girl; and in that case--" "Well, what in that case? Are you going to be another Lady Julia? What do I care about the girl?" "I don't suppose you care much about the girl; and if you care as little about Mr. Crosbie, there's an end of it; only in that case, Alexandrina--" "Well, what in that case?" "You know I don't want to preach to you. Can't you tell me at once whether you really like him? You and I have always been good friends." And the married sister put her arm affectionately round the waist of her who wished to be married. "I like him well enough." "And has he made any declaration to you?"