divorce cases are _not_ perused, and that is my brother Timothy's
breakfast-table," said Lady Belstone, very distinctly.

John hastened to fill up the awkward pause which ensued, by a
reference to the beauty of the hall.

"I'm afraid we don't live up to our beautiful old house," said Lady
Mary, shaking her head. "There are some lovely things stored away
in the gallery upstairs, and some beautiful pictures hanging there,
including the Vandyck, you know, which Charles II. gave to old
Sir Peter, your cavalier ancestor. But the gallery is almost a
lumber-room, for the floor is too unsafe to walk upon. And down here,
as you see, we are terribly Philistine."

"This hall was furnished by my grandmother for her son's marriage,"
said Miss Crewys.

"And she sent all your great-grandmother's treasures to the attics,"
said Lady Mary, with rather a wilful intonation. "I always long to
bring them to light again, and to make this place livable; but my
husband does not like change."

"Dear Timothy is faithful to the past," said Miss Crewys,
majestically.

"I wish old Lady Crewys had been as faithful," said Lady Mary,
shrugging her shoulders.

"Young people always like changes," said Lady Belstone, more
leniently.