But the milliner's bills proved monstrous, and the drawing-room of her house not large enough for the routs she contemplated giving. The air was too relaxing for her, and she was subject to constant attacks of the vapours that were as distressing to her household as they were to herself. The late hours made her head ache as it never ached in London, and the damp gave her a cold. Furthermore, the advent of an attractive and exceedingly wealthy little widow caused her many a bitter hour, to the considerable detriment of her good-temper. She was lying on a couch in her white and gilt drawing room one afternoon--alas! the craze for French furniture was o'er-smelling-bottle in hand and a _bona fide_ ache in her head, when the door opened and Tracy walked into the room. "Good heavens!" she said faintly, and uncorked her salts. It was his Grace's first appearance since she had come to Bath, and the fact that he had politely declined an invitation that she had sent to him still rankled in her mind. He bowed over the limp hand that she extended, and looked her up and down. "I regret to find you thus indisposed, my dear sister," he said smoothly. "'Tis nought. Only one of my stupid headaches. I am never well here, and this house is stuffy," she answered fretfully. "You should take the waters," he said, scrutinising, through his eyeglass, the chair to which she had waved him. "It has an unstable appearance, my dear; I believe I prefer the couch." He moved to a smaller sofa and sat down. "Pray, how long have you been in Bath?" she demanded. "I arrived last Tuesday week." Lady Lavinia started up. "Last Tuesday week? Then you have been here ten days and not visited me until now!" He appeared to be examining the whiteness of his hands through the folds of black lace that drooped over them. "I believe I had other things to do," he said coolly. A book of sermons that she had been trying to peruse slid to the ground as Lavinia jerked a cushion into place. "And you come to me when it suits you? How could you be so unkind as to refuse my invitation?" There was a rising, querulous note in her voice which gave warning of anger. "My dear Lavinia, if you exhibit your deplorable temper to me, I shall leave you, so have a care. I thought you would understand that your good husband's society, improving though it may be, would be altogether too oppressive for my taste. In fact, I was surprised at your letter." "You might have come for my sake," she answered peevishly, sinking back again. "I suppose you have been dancing attendance on the Molesly woman? Lud! but I think you men have gone crazed." Understanding came to his Grace, and he smiled provokingly. "Is that what upsets you? I wondered."