No answer was returned for four days, at the end of which time Lady Juliana received the following note from her brother:—­

“DEAR JULIA—­I quite agree with you in thinking that you have been kept long enough in the corner, and shall certainly tell Papa that you are ready to become a good girl whenever he shall please to take you out of it.  I shall endeavour to see Douglas and you soon.—­Yours affectionately, LINDORE.”

“Lady Lindore desires me to say you can have tickets for her ball, if you choose to come en masque.”

Lady Juliana was delighted with this billet, which she protested was everything that was kind and generous; but the postscript was the part on which she dwelt with the greatest delight, as she repeatedly declared it was a great deal more than she expected.  “You see, Harry,” said she, as she tossed the note to him, “I was in the right.  Papa won’t forgive me; but Lindore says he will send me a ticket for the fete; it is vastly attentive of him, for I did not ask it.  But I must go disguised, which is monstrous provoking, for I’m afraid nobody will know me.”

A dispute here ensued.  Henry swore she should not steal into her father’s house as long as she was his wife.  The lady insisted that she should go to her brother’s fete when she was invited; and the altercations ended as altercations commonly do, leaving both parties more wedded to their own opinion than at first.

In the evening Lady Juliana went to a large party; and as she was passing from one room into another she was startled by a little paper pellet thrown at her.  Turning round to look for the offender, she saw her brother standing at a little distance, smiling at her surprise.  This was the first time she had seen him for two years, and she went up to him with an extended hand, while he gave her a familiar nod, and a “How d’ye do, Julia?” and one finger of his hand, while he turned round to speak to one of his companions.  Nothing could be more characteristic of both parties than this fraternal meeting; and from this time they were the best friends imaginable.

CHAPTER XXII.

“Helas! ou donc chercher ou trouver le bonheur,
Nulle part tout entier, partout avec mesure!”

VOLTAIRE.

SOME days before the expected fete Lady Juliana, at the instigation of her adviser, Lady Gerard, resolved upon taking the field against the Duchess of L—–.  Her Grace had issued cards for a concert; and after mature deliberation it was decided that her rival should strike out something new, and announce a christening for the same night.