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224 "Ina," said Lady Waveryng, "I want to talk to you. I want you to let us come up with you to the Dell, as soon as the Prince has gone. You are too wildly dissipated, you Leichardtstonians, even for me. I don't think this life is healthy for Horace—too much larking round, driving four-in-hand, billiards at the club, and nipping and champagne suppers. Horry is so stupidly social and good-natured; it has always been his fault. I think he is a little disheartened about the Dell, isn't he? It hasn't paid as well as he thought. He was telling Waveryng that he wanted to take up more land and make a larger place of it; and that would give him more occupation, wouldn't it?"

"Yes," said Ina, faintly; "he wants more occupation."

"You don't keep him in order, my dear," Lady Waveryng went on. "That's what Horry always wanted. He ought to have married a martinet, not a sweet, docile, submissive little creature like you: you let him sit upon you too much. Did he tell you that I gave him a lecture the other night for leaving you so much alone?"

"No. But you mustn't, indeed, Lady Waveryng—Emily, I mean. Horace is very kind, and if I am sometimes alone, it is what I like. You mustn't ever scold Horace because of me. He is the best husband in the world."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Lady Waveryng, putting up her eyeglass. "He has certainly got the best wife in the world. And what I want to tell you is that you must get him to go up to the Dell, and take us very soon. We haven't much longer to be here: and Waveryng is quite ready to do something, if he sees that the money is not going to be thrown away—Waveryng likes the idea of taking up land and founding a sort of estate; and we might come out again, you know, and see how you are getting on."

Ina expressed her gratitude. Presently Lord Waveryng came with Lord Horace, who was excited and full of Elsie's engagement. "I've been telling 'em in the supper-room," he said. "A capital fellow, Frank Hallett; the best fellow in the world! By Jove, Astar was hit, I can tell you! You should have seen his face! I shall chaff Elsie about it