ady Clonbrony was particularly glad that she had carried her point
about this party at Lady St. James's; because, from the first private
intimation that the Duchess of Torcaster was to be there, her ladyship
flattered herself that the long-desired introduction might then be
accomplished. But of this hope Lady St. James had likewise received
intimation from the double-dealing Miss Pratt; and a warning note was
despatched to the duchess to let her grace know that circumstances had
occurred which had rendered it impossible not to ask THE CLONBRONIES.
An excuse, of course, for not going to this party was sent by the
duchess--her grace did not like large parties--she would have the
pleasure of accepting Lady St. James's invitation for her select party
on Wednesday the 10th. Into these select parties Lady Clonbrony had
never been admitted. In return for her great entertainments she was
invited to great entertainments, to large parties; but farther she could
never penetrate.

At Lady St, James's, and with her set, Lady Clonbrony suffered a
different kind of mortification from that which Lady Langdale and Mrs.
Dareville made her endure. She was safe from the witty raillery, the sly
innuendo, the insolent mimicry; but she was kept at a cold, impassable
distance, by ceremony--'So far shalt thou go, and no farther' was
expressed in every look, in every word, and in a thousand different
ways.

By the most punctilious respect and nice regard to precedency, even by
words of courtesy--'Your ladyship does me honour,' etc.--Lady St. James
contrived to mortify and to mark the difference between those with whom
she was, and with whom she was not, upon terms of intimacy and equality.
Thus the ancient grandees of Spain drew a line of demarcation between
themselves and the newly-created nobility. Whenever or wherever
they met, they treated the new nobles with the utmost respect, never
addressed them but with all their titles, with low bows, and with all
the appearance of being, with the most perfect consideration, anything
but their equals; whilst towards one another the grandees
laid aside their state, and omitting their titles, it was,
'Alcala-Medina-Sidonia-Infantado,' and a freedom and familiarity which
marked equality. Entrenched in etiquette in this manner, and mocked with
marks of respect, it was impossible either to intrude or to complain of
being excluded.

At supper at Lady St. James's, Lady Clonbrony's present was pronounced
b