“They say there really is a land,
Where husbands never are untrue,
Where wives are always beautiful,
And the old love is always new. 
I’ve asked the wise to tell me how
A loving woman could get there;
And this is what they say to me,—­
’If you that happy land would see,
There’s only one way to get there: 
Go straight along the crooked lane,
And all around the square.’”

The scornful little song followed him, and conveyed a certain meaning to his mind.  The girl must have taken her cue from the gossip of those who passed her to and fro.  He burned with indignation, not for himself, but for his sweet, pure Katherine.  He was determined that the world should in the future know that he held her peerless among women.  In this half-aggressive mood he approached Lady Capel.  She had been unfortunate all the evening, and was not amiable.  As he stood behind her chair, Lord Leffham asked,—­

“What think you, Hyde, of a party at picquet?”

“Oh, indeed, my lord, you are too much for me!”

“I will give you three points.”  Then, calling a footman, “Here, fellow, get cards.”

Lady Capel flung her own down.  “No, no, Leffham.  Spare my grandson:  there are bigger fish here.  Dick, I am angry at you.  I have a mind to banish you for a month.”

“I am going to Norfolk for two weeks, madam.”

[Illustration:  “Dick, I am angry at you”]

“That will do.  It is a worse punishment than I should have given you.  Norfolk!  There is only one word between it and the plantations.  At this time of the year, it is a clay pudding full of villages.  Give me your arm, Dick; I shall play no more until my luck turns again.  Losing cards are dull company indeed.”

“I am very sorry that you have been losing.  I came to ask for the loan of a hundred pounds, grandmother.”

“No, sir, I will not lend you a hundred pounds; nor am I in the humour to do anything else you desire.”

“I make my apology for the request.  I ought to have asked Katherine.”

“No, sir, you ought not to have asked Katherine.  You ought to take what you want.  Jack Capel took every shilling of my fortune and neither said ‘by your leave’ nor ‘thank you.’  Did the Dutchman tie the bag too close?”

“Councillor Van Heemskirk left it open, in my honour.  When I am scoundrel enough to touch it, I shall not come and see you at all, grandmother.”

“Upon my word, a very pretty compliment!  Well, sir, I’ll pay you a hundred pounds for it.  When do you start?”

“To-morrow morning.”

“Make it afternoon, and take care of me as far as your aunt Julia’s.  The duke is of the royal bed-chamber this month, and I am going to see my daughter while he is away.  It will make him supremely wretched at court to know that I am in his house.  So I am going there, and I shall take care he knows it.”

“I have heard a great deal of his new house.”