Duke
of Sedbergh was master of! Well, it was worth while, perhaps, to have
gained an experience, even at the expense of certain illusions, as to
the manners of dukes, and--and--as to the constancy of friends. But
never again--never again!' said the impetuous inner voice. 'I have my
world--they theirs!'

But why so strong a flood of bitterness against our poor upper class, so
well intentioned for all its occasional lack of lucidity, should have
arisen in so young a breast it is a little difficult for the most
conscientious biographer to explain. She had partners to her heart's
desire; young Lord Waynflete used his utmost arts upon her to persuade
her that at least half a dozen numbers of the regular programme were
extras and therefore at his disposal; and when royalty supped, it was
graciously pleased to ordain that Lady Helen and her two companions
should sup behind the same folding-doors as itself, while beyond these
doors surged the inferior crowd of persons who had been specially
invited to 'meet their Royal Highnesses,' and had so far been held
worthy neither to dance nor to eat in the same room with them. But in
vain. Rose still felt herself, for all her laughing outward
_insouciance_, a poor, bruised, helpless chattel, trodden under the heel
of a world which was intolerably powerful, rich, and self-satisfied, the
odious product of 'family arrangements.'

Mr. Flaxman sat far away at the same royal table as herself. Beside him
was the thin tall _debutante_. 'She is like one of the Gainsborough
princesses,' thought Rose, studying her with involuntary admiration. 'Of
course it is all plain. He will get everything he wants, and a Lady
Florence into the bargain. Radical, indeed! What nonsense!'

Then it startled her to find that the eyes of Lady Florence's neighbour
were, as it seemed, on herself; or was he merely nodding to Lady
Helen?--and she began immediately to give a smiling attention to the man
on her left.

An hour later she and Agnes and Lady Helen were descending the great
staircase on their way to their carriage. The morning light was flooding
through the chinks of the carefully veiled windows; Lady Helen was
yawning behind her tiny white hand, her eyes nearly asleep. But the two
sisters, who had not been up till three, on four preceding nights, like
their chaperon, were still almost as fresh as the flowers massed in the
hall below.

'Ah, there is Hugh!' cried Lady Helen. 'How I hope he has found the
c