She heard also from Redworth of the unexampled concert of the guests at Mrs. Warwick’s dinner parties.  He had met on one occasion the Esquarts, the Pettigrews, Mr. Percy Dacier, and a Miss Paynham.  Redworth had not a word to say of the expensive household.  Whatever Mrs. Warwick did was evidently good to him.  On another evening the party was composed of Lady Pennon, Lord Larrian, Miss Paynham, a clever Mrs. Wollasley, Mr. Henry Wilmers, and again Mr. Percy Dacier.

When Diana came to Copsley, Lady Dunstane remarked on the recurrence of the name of Miss Paynham in the list of her guests.

‘And Mr. Percy Dacier’s too,’ said Diana, smiling.  ’They are invited each for specific reasons.  It pleases Lord Dannisburgh to hear that a way has been found to enliven his nephew; and my little dinners are effective, I think.  He wakes.  Yesterday evening he capped flying jests with Mr. Sullivan Smith.  But you speak of Miss.  Paynham.’  Diana lowered her voice on half a dozen syllables, till the half-tones dropped into her steady look.  ‘You approve, Emmy?’

The answer was:  ‘I do—­true or not.’

’Between us two, dear, I fear! . . .  In either case, she has been badly used.  Society is big engine enough to protect itself.  I incline with British juries to do rough justice to the victims.  She has neither father nor brother.  I have had no confidences:  but it wears the look of a cowardly business.  With two words in his ear, I could arm an Irishman to do some work of chastisement:  he would select the rascal’s necktie for a cause of quarrel and lords have to stand their ground as well as commoners.  They measure the same number of feet when stretched their length.  However, vengeance with the heavens! though they seem tardy.  Lady Pennon has been very kind about it; and the Esquarts invite her to Lockton.  Shoulder to shoulder, the tide may be stemmed.’

‘She would have gone under, but for you, dear Tony!’ said Emma’ folding arms round her darling’s neck anal kissing her.  ’Bring her here some day.’

Diana did not promise it.  She had her vision of Sir Lukin in his fit of lunacy.

‘I am too weak for London now,’ Emma resumed.  ’I should like to be useful.  Is she pleasant?’

‘Sprightly by nature.  She has worn herself with fretting.’

’Then bring her to stay with me, if I cannot keep you.  She will talk of you to me.’

‘I will bring her for a couple of days,’ Diana said.  ’I am too busy to remain longer.  She paints portraits to amuse herself.  She ought to be pushed, wherever she is received about London, while the season is warm.  One season will suffice to establish her.  She is pretty, near upon six and twenty:  foolish, of course:—­she pays for having had a romantic head.  Heavy payment, Emmy!  I drive at laws, but hers is an instance of the creatures wanting simple human kindness.’

’The good law will come with a better civilization; but before society can be civilized it has to be debarbarized,’ Emma remarked, and Diana sighed over the task and the truism.