"That there is a baby,—a boy. She has heard it all from some friend of hers at Rome."
"It can't be true."
"She said that I had better tell you. Does it make you unhappy, George?" To this he made no immediate answer. "What can it matter whether he was married two months ago or two years? It does not make me unhappy;" as she said this, she locked herself close into his arm.
"Why should he deceive us? That would make me unhappy. If he had married in a proper way and had a family, here in England, of course I should have been glad. I should have been loyal to him as I am to the others. But if this be true, of course, it will make me unhappy. I do not believe it. It is some gossip."
"I could not but tell you."
"It is some jealousy. There was a time when they said that Brotherton meant to marry her."
"What difference could it make to her? Of course we all know that he is married. I hope it won't make you unhappy, George." But Lord George was unhappy, or at any rate, was moody, and would talk no more then on that subject, or any other. But in truth the matter rested on his mind all the night.
CHAPTER XIV.
"ARE WE TO CALL HIM POPENJOY?"