discover this or that new beauty. That lovely girl from Scotland with
the large eyes--that sweet young creature from Ireland with the long
eyelashes. She was always inventing new divinities. But even this
change of plan, this more feminine line of politics failed to reconcile
the strict and the stern, the Queen Charlotte-ish elderly ladies, and
the impeccable matrons, to Lady Kirkbank and her sea. The girls who were
launched by Lady Kirkbank never took high rank in society. When they
made good marriages it was generally to be observed that they dropped
Lady Kirkbank soon afterwards. It was not their fault, these ingrates
pleaded piteously; but Edward, or Henry, or Theodore, as the case might
be, had a most cruel prejudice against dear Lady Kirkbank, and the young
wives were obliged to obey.

Others there were, however, the loyal few, who having won the prize
matrimonial in Lady Kirkbank's happy hunting grounds, remained true to
their friend ever afterwards, and defended her character against every
onslaught.

When Lady Maulevrier told her grandson that she had entrusted Lady
Kirkbank with the duty of introducing Lesbia to society, Maulevrier
shrugged his shoulders and held his peace. He knew no actual harm in the
matter. Lady Kirkbank's was rather a fast set; and had he been allowed
to choose it was not to Lady Kirkbank that he would have delegated his
grandmother's duty. In Maulevrier's own phrase it was 'not good enough'
for Lesbia. But it was not in his power to interfere. He was not told of
the plan until everything had been settled. The thing was accomplished;
and against accomplished facts Maulevrier was the last to protest.

His friend John Hammond had not been silent. He knew nothing of Lady
Kirkbank personally; but he knew the position which she held in London