“This is indeed kind,” said the Duchess, shaking Miss Strong’s masculine-looking hand warmly, “and it is kind of you, Miss Manwaring,” she added, turning to Evelyn, “to waive ceremony and come to see an old woman whose doctor would not allow her to come and see you. Ah! I see,” she continued, holding Evelyn’s hand in hers, and gently kissing her fair forehead; “you have your mother’s beautiful eyes and hair. Poor little Honoria! Your mother and I were friends when we were girls, you know, and I mean that you and I should be friends now. I am most happy to welcome a _lady_ to the Palace; we have not quite always been so fortunate of late, have we, Miss Strong? and I venture to promise that it will not be my fault if Miss Manwaring’s new home is not a happy one.” Evelyn was thoroughly set at her ease by this kind address, and the conversation was becoming general, when Mr. Gilray, the groom of the chambers, throwing open the door, announced Lady Lavinia Gathercole, whom Evelyn at once concluded to be the mistress of the Mrs. Papfaddle who had hospitably entertained her own maid with “the cup that cheers but not inebriates” the previous evening. Truth to tell, Lady Lavinia had been bursting with curiosity the whole morning to see the new-comer--although, till she knew more about her, she did not like to hazard a call--and being warned by the faithful Papfaddle that Evelyn was on her way with Miss Strong to visit the Duchess, she had hastily thrown on her best company bonnet and shawl, and arrived, as she afterwards told her friend and ally Lady M’Adam, in the nick of time to see the pert minx currying favour with her betters. The Duchess looked somewhat annoyed by the interruption, but she received Lady Lavinia very civilly. Lady Lavinia (eighth daughter of the late Earl of Beccles), after fidgeting her quiet little husband, Mr. John Gathercole of the Board of Trade, into a premature grave, took to writing novels of a mildly naughty description, and set up as a Blue. The _Morning Post_ (then in its threepenny days) kept constantly printing, in its literary column and clearest type, announcements like the following:--