"But Lady Vanilla is one of those who will
talk with everybody."
"She is very amusing though," said Lady Marney.
"I dare say she is," said Lord de Mowbray; "but believe me, my
dear Lady Marney, in these times especially, a countess has
something else to do than be amusing."
"You think as property has its duties as well as its rights,
rank has its bores as well as its pleasures."
Lord Mowbray mused.
"How do you do, Mr Jermyn?" said a lively little lady with
sparkling beady black eyes, and a very yellow complexion,
though with good features; "when did you arrive in the North?
I have been fighting your battles finely since I saw you," she
added shaking her head, rather with an expression of
admonition than of sympathy.
"You are always fighting one's battles Lady Firebrace; it is
very kind of you. If it were not for you, we should none of
us know how much we are all abused," replied Mr Jermyn, a
young M.P.
"They say you gave the most radical pledges," said Lady
Firebrace eagerly, and not without malice. "I heard Lord
Muddlebrains say that if he had had the least idea of your
principles, you would not have had his influence."
"Muddlebrains can't command a single vote," said Mr Jermyn.
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