‘Do no such thing, young man,’ said Mountclere.  ’The best course is to leave matters alone.  They are married.  If you are wise, you will try to think the match a good one, and be content to let her keep her position without inconveniencing her by your intrusions or complaints.  It is possible that the satisfaction of her ambition will help her to endure any few surprises to her propriety that may occur.  She is a clever young woman, and has played her cards adroitly.  I only hope she may never repent of the game!  A-hem.  Good morning.’  Saying this, Mountclere slightly bowed to his relations, and marched out of the church with dignity; but it was told afterwards by the coachman, who had no love for Mountclere, that when he stepped into the fly, and was as he believed unobserved, he was quite overcome with fatuous rage, his lips frothing like a mug of hot ale.

’What an impertinent gentleman ‘tis,’ said Chickerel.  ’As if we had tried for her to marry his brother!’

‘He knows better than that,’ said Sol.  ’But he’ll never believe that Berta didn’t lay a trap for the old fellow.  He thinks at this moment that Lord Mountclere has never been told of us and our belongings.’

‘I wonder if she has deceived him in anything,’ murmured Chickerel.  ’I can hardly suppose it.  But she is altogether beyond me.  However, if she has misled him on any point she will suffer for it.’

’You need not fear that, father.  It isn’t her way of working.  Why couldn’t she have known that when a title is to be had for the asking, the owner must be a shocking one indeed?’

’The title is well enough.  Any poor scrubs in our place must be fools not to think the match a very rare and astonishing honour, as far as the position goes.  But that my brave girl will be miserable is a part of the honour I can’t stomach so well.  If he had been any other lord in the kingdom, we might have been merry indeed.  I believe he will ruin her happiness—­yes, I do—­not by any personal snubbing or rough conduct, but by other things, causing her to be despised; and that is a thing she can’t endure.’

’She’s not to be despised without a deal of trouble—­we must remember that.  And if he insults her by introducing new favourites, as they say he did his first wife, I’ll call upon him and ask his meaning, and take her away.’

’Nonsense—­we shall never know what he does, or how she feels; she will never let out a word.  However unhappy she may be, she will always deny it—­that’s the unfortunate part of such marriages.’

‘An old chap like that ought to leave young women alone, damn him!’

The clerk came nearer.  ’I am afraid I cannot allow bad words to be spoke in this sacred pile,’ he said.  ’As far as my personal self goes, I should have no objection to your cussing as much as you like, but as a official of the church my conscience won’t allow it to be done.’

’Your conscience has allowed something to be done that cussing and swearing are godly worship to.’