Byron's Grandson and Shelley's Son--The World of Balls--The "Great Houses," and Their New Rivals--The Latter Criticized by Some Ladies of the Old Noblesse--Types of More Serious Society--Lady Marian Alford and Others--_Salons_ Exclusive and Inclusive--A Clash of Two Rival Poets--The Poet Laureate --Auberon Herbert and the Simple Life--Dean Stanley--Whyte Melville--"Ouida"--"Violet Fane"--Catholic Society--Lord Bute--Banquet to Cardinal Manning--Difficulties of the Memoir-writer--Lord Wemyss and Lady P---- --Indiscretions of Augustus Hare--Routine of a London Day--The Author's Life Out of London The few portraits and anecdotes which I have just sketched or recorded are sufficient, let me say once more, to illustrate two general facts. They indicate the way in which society owes much of its finer polish to it. They emphasize the fact that, when I first knew it myself, it was very much smaller than it has since then become, and, though divided into sections even then, was very much more cohesive. Let me pass from this latter fact to some of my own experiences as connected with it. For young men who are already equipped with influential friends or connections, a society which is relatively small and more or less cohesive is in some ways more easy of access than one which is more numerous, but in which, unless their means are ample enough to excite the competitive affection of mothers, they are more likely to be lost. In this respect I may look on myself as fortunate, for my circle of acquaintances very rapidly widened as soon as, having done with Oxford, I began to stay in London for more than a week at a time, and secured a habitation, more or less permanent, of my own. While I was first looking about for one which I thought would be suitable, Wentworth returned the hospitality which I had previously shown him at Oxford by putting me up for a fortnight at his house on the Chelsea Embankment, and during this visit an incident took place which, if merely judged by the names of the few persons concerned in it, might be thought picturesquely memorable. Students of Robert Browning may recollect a short poem of his which begins with the following lines: And did you once see Shelley plain? And did he stop and speak to you? And did you answer him again? How strange it seems and true!