"Just so. I have got a wife too. Mine has come from one of the oldest and noblest families in Christendom."
"Mine is the granddaughter of a livery-stable keeper," said Lord
George, with a touch of real grandeur; "and, thank God, I can be proud of her in any society in England."
"I dare say;—particularly as she had some money."
"Yes; she had money. I could hardly have married without. But when you see her I think you will not be ashamed of her as your sister-in-law."
"Ah! She lives in London and I am just at present down here."
"She is the daughter of the Dean of Brotherton."
"So I have heard. They used to make gentlemen Deans." After this there was a pause, Lord George finding it difficult to go on with the conversation without a quarrel. "To tell you the truth, George, I will not willingly see anything more of your Dean. He came here and insulted me. He got up and blustered about the room because I wouldn't thank him for the honour he had done our family by his alliance. If you please, George, we'll understand that the less said about the Dean the better. You see I haven't any of the money out of the stable-yard."
"My wife's money didn't come out of a stable-yard. It came from a wax-chandler's shop," said Lord George, jumping up, just as the Dean had done. There was something in the man's manner worse even than his words which he found it almost impossible to bear. But he seated himself again as his brother sat looking at him with a bitter smile upon his face. "I don't suppose," he said, "you can wish to annoy me."
"Certainly not. But I wish that the truth should be understood between us."