understand that the hearing of such things as these was a part of the
price which she was to be called upon to pay. It was not pleasant for
her to hear what Sir Charles Poddy had said about the tobacco and brandy
of the man she was just going to marry. She would sooner have heard of
his riding sixty miles a day, or dancing all night, as she might have
heard had she been contented to take Harry Clavering. But she had made
her selection with her eyes open, and was not disposed to quarrel with
her bargain, because that which she had bought was no better than the
article which she had known it to be when she was making her purchase.
Nor was she even angry with her sister. "I will do the best I can,
Hermy; you may be sure of that. But there are some things which it is
useless to talk about."

"But it was as well you should know what Sir Charles said."

"I know quite enough of what he says, Hermy--quite as much, I dare say,
as you do. But, never mind. If Lord Ongar has given up smoking, I quite
agree with you that it's a good thing. I wish they'd all give it up, for
I hate the smell of it. Hugh has got worse and worse. He never cares
about changing his clothes now."

"I'll tell you what it is," said Sir Hugh to his wife that night; "sixty
thousand a year is a very fine income, but Julia will find she has
caught a tartar."

"I suppose he'll hardly live long; will he?"

"I don't know or care when he lives or when he dies; but, by heaven, he
is the most overbearing fellow I ever had in the house with me. I
wouldn't stand him here for another fortnight--not even to make her all