language," she said, "which conveys to me so little of defined meaning as
that word vixen. If you can, tell me what you mean, Clara."

"Stop it, mamma."

"But why should I stop it, even if I could?"

"You don't know her, mamma."

"She has visited at Fawn Court more than once. She is a friend of Lucy's."

"If she is a friend of Lucy Morris, mamma, Lucy Morris shall never come
here."

"But what has she done? I have never heard that she has behaved
improperly. What does it all mean? She goes out everywhere. I don't think
she has had any lovers. Frederic would be the last man in the world to
throw himself away upon an ill-conditioned young woman."

"Frederic can see just as far as some other men, and not a bit further. Of
course she has an income--for her life."

"I believe it is her own altogether, Clara."

"She says so, I don't doubt. I believe she is the greatest liar about
London. You find out about her jewels before she married poor Sir Florian,
and how much he had to pay for her. Or rather, I'll find out. If you want
to know, mamma, you just ask her own aunt, Lady Linlithgow."

"We all know, my dear, that Lady Linlithgow quarrelled with her."