Evelyn could only reply that she was happy to make acquaintance with a lady whose appearance was so remarkably unsuggestive of the patriarchal personage mentioned, and then the conversation, such as it was, turned upon general topics. After a short time, the Duchess, begging her other visitors to excuse her, expressed a wish to speak to Evelyn in private, and conducted her to her own particular room, which was through that in which they had been sitting. “I have brought you in here,” said her Grace, as soon as they were seated, “because I wish to speak to you a few words without interruption. I want to tell you, my dear Miss Manwaring, that I wish to be your friend, not only on account of the excellent qualities which I am sure you possess, and for your dear mother’s sake, but because I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to one of your family who now, alas! is no more--I mean your brother Wilfred, who was my son’s intimate friend when they were together at a private tutor’s, that Dr. Massenger who behaved so ill. My son has often told me what a noble lad that brother of yours was, and that his steadfast friendship and good example were of the utmost value to himself at a critical point of his life: some day, before long, I trust you will see my boy yourself.” Evelyn was inexpressibly gratified at hearing her darling brother thus lauded by the gracious lady who sat beside her, and, with her eyes filled with grateful tears, said she had often heard of the young Duke of Ribblesdale from her brother. She added that she had still in her possession the letter he had written to Wilfred with the too-late intention of informing him of his acquittal of the charges brought against him, and that she felt deeply thankful to him for having written it. The Duchess then expressed a hope that Evelyn would not too much seclude herself. “Take us all round,” said her Grace, smiling, “we are not a bad sort of people in the Palace, and I am sure you will meet many kind friends among us. To-morrow I shall insist on your dining quietly with me, for I am bent on introducing you to the Miss Hazelhursts, who are the dearest old ladies in the world. And, now I have said what I wanted, we will go back to Lady Lavinia and Miss Strong; and remember this, that the Duchess of Ribblesdale only brings into this little sanctum those who are, or those who she wishes to be, her intimate personal friends.” CHAPTER XVIII. HER GRACE OF RIBBLESDALE.