“By heavens, Julia!” cried her husband passionately, “you are past all endurance!  Can nothing touch you?—­nothing fix your thoughts, and make you serious for a single moment?  Can I not make you understand that you are ruining yourself and me; that we have nothing to depend upon but the bounty of that man whom you disgust by your caprice, extravagance, and impertinence; and that if you don’t get reconciled to your father what is to become of you?  You already know what you have to expect from my family, and how you like living with them.”

“Heavens, Harry!” exclaimed her Ladyship, “what is all this tirade about?  Is it because I said papa wouldn’t forgive me?  I’m sure I don’t mind writing to him; I have no objection, the first leisure moment I have; but really, in town, one’s time is so engrossed.”

At this moment her maid entered in triumph, carrying on her arms a satin dress, embroidered with gold and flowers.

“See, my Lady,” cried she, “your new robe, as Madame has sent home half a day sooner than her word; and she has disobliged several of the quality by not giving the pattern.”

“Oh, lovely! charming!  Spread it out, Gage; hold it to the light; all my own fancy.  Only look, Harry; how exquisite! how divine!”

Harry had no time to express his contempt for embroidered robes; for just then one of his knowing friends came, by appointment, to accompany him to Tattersal’s, where he was to bid for a famous pair of curricle grays.

Days passed on without Lady Juliana’s ever thinking it worth while to follow her husband’s advice about applying to her father; until a week after, Douglas overheard the following conversation between his wife and one of her acquaintance.

“You are going to this grand fete, of course,” said Mrs. G.  “I’m told it is to eclipse everything that has been yet seen or heard of.”

“Of what fete do you speak?” demanded Lady Juliana.

“Lord, my dear creature, how Gothic you are!  Don’t you know anything about this grand affair that everybody has been talking of for two days?  Lady Lindore gives, at your father’s house, an entertainment which is to be a concert, ball, and masquerade at once.  All London is asked, of any distinction, c’a s’entend. But, bless me, I beg pardon, I totally forgot that you were not on the best terms possible in that quarter; but never mind, we must have you go; there is not a person of fashion that will stay away; I must get you asked; I shall petition Lady Lindore in your favour.”

“Oh pray don’t trouble yourself,”, cried Lady Juliana, in extreme pique.  “I believe I can get this done without your obliging interference; but I don’t know whether I shall be in town then.”

From this moment Lady Juliana resolved to make a vigorous effort to regain a footing in her father’s house.  Her first action the next morning was to write to her brother, who had hitherto kept aloof, because he could not be at the trouble of having a difference with the Earl, entreating him to use his influence in promoting a reconciliation between her father and herself.