"What with the dear King and the dear Duke, we
really had brought ourselves to believe that we lived in the
days of Versailles or nearly; and I must admit I think we had
become a little too exclusive. Out of the cottage circle,
there was really no world, and after all we were lost not by
insulting the people but by snubbing the aristocracy."
The servant announced Lady Firebrace. "Oh! my dear Lady
Deloraine. Oh! my dear Lady St Julians!" and she shook her
head.
"You have no news, I suppose," said Lady St Julians.
"Only about that dreadful Mr Trenchard; you know the reason
why he ratted?"
"No, indeed," said Lady St Julians with a sigh.
"An invitation to Lansdowne House, for himself and his wife!"
"Oh! he is married then?"
"Yes; she is at the bottom of it all. Terms regularly settled
beforehand. I have a note here--all the facts." And Lady
Firebrace twirled in her hand a bulletin from Mr Tadpole.
"Lansdowne House is destined to cross me," said Lady St
Julians with bitterness.
"Well it is very provoking," said Lady Deloraine, "when you
had made up your mind to ask them for Wednesday."
"Yes, that alone is a sacrifice," said Lady St Julians.
"Talking over the division I suppose," said Egremont as he
entered.
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