hunted lions to roar at her parties.  She prided herself on being the first to discover this or that new beauty.  That lovely girl from Scotland with the large eyes—­that sweet young creature from Ireland with the long eyelashes.  She was always inventing new divinities.  But even this change of plan, this more feminine line of politics failed to reconcile the strict and the stern, the Queen Charlotte-ish elderly ladies, and the impeccable matrons, to Lady Kirkbank and her sea.  The girls who were launched by Lady Kirkbank never took high rank in society.  When they made good marriages it was generally to be observed that they dropped Lady Kirkbank soon afterwards.  It was not their fault, these ingrates pleaded piteously; but Edward, or Henry, or Theodore, as the case might be, had a most cruel prejudice against dear Lady Kirkbank, and the young wives were obliged to obey.

Others there were, however, the loyal few, who having won the prize matrimonial in Lady Kirkbank’s happy hunting grounds, remained true to their friend ever afterwards, and defended her character against every onslaught.

When Lady Maulevrier told her grandson that she had entrusted Lady Kirkbank with the duty of introducing Lesbia to society, Maulevrier shrugged his shoulders and held his peace.  He knew no actual harm in the matter.  Lady Kirkbank’s was rather a fast set; and had he been allowed to choose it was not to Lady Kirkbank that he would have delegated his grandmother’s duty.  In Maulevrier’s own phrase it was ‘not good enough’ for Lesbia.  But it was not in his power to interfere.  He was not told of the plan until everything had been settled.  The thing was accomplished; and against accomplished facts Maulevrier was the last to protest.

His friend John Hammond had not been silent.  He knew nothing of Lady Kirkbank personally; but he knew the position which she held in London society, and he urged his friend strongly to enlighten Lady Maulevrier as to the kind of circle into which she was about to entrust her young granddaughter, a girl brought up in the Arcadia of England.

‘Not for worlds would I undertake such a task,’ said Maulevrier.  ’Her ladyship never had any opinion of my wisdom, and this Lady Kirkbank is a friend of her own youth.  She would cut up rough if I were to say a word against an old friend.  Besides what’s the odds, if you come to think of it? all society is fast nowadays, or at any rate all society worth living in.  And then again, Lesbia is just one of those cool-headed girls who would keep herself head uppermost in a maelstrom.  She knows on which side her bread is buttered.  Look how easily she chucked you up because she did not think you good enough.  She’ll make use of this Lady Kirkbank, who is a good soul, I am told, and will make the best match of the season.’

And now the season had begun, and Lady Lesbia Haselden was circulating with other aristocratic atoms in the social vortex, with her head apparently uppermost.