“Perhaps it will be better not,” replied the girl, in a disappointed tone, “for I have promised mamma never to attend a sitting again. May I tell Lady Loreley that you will have the medium here to meet her, Marchesa? I shall see her this evening!” “You had better say nothing, but what I have told you--that if she wishes it, I think I can help her to see her child again. Then she can make an appointment with me, or not, as she chooses!” “Fancy! her _not_ choosing!” exclaimed Miss Selwyn, “why, she will rush to you as soon as ever she can!” And in effect, the very next day Hannah received a coronetted note from the Countess of Loreley, to say that, with her kind permission, she would call in Portland Place that afternoon. CHAPTER XVII. No one who had seen the Marchesa, as she sat in her drawing-room, awaiting the arrival of the Countess of Loreley, would have recognised her as the maid-of-all-work, Hannah Stubbs, who had married Signor Ricardo, from Mrs. Battleby’s lodging-house, less than three years before. She wore a robe fashioned by a dressmaker, chosen for her by the Baron; her abundant hair had been arranged by her lady’s maid in the height of the prevailing style; she displayed one or two articles of costly jewelry; she was neither under, nor overdressed. Her personal appearance, also, was wonderfully improved, Hannah was not yet twenty-one, but she looked thirty. Her figure was still unshapely and abundantly covered with flesh, but her skin was smoother, and her complexion and hands properly attended to. She was still a coarse specimen of her sex--there have been such anomalies in this world as coarse and vulgar duchesses, and when bred to the position into the bargain--and she would never be really handsome, but there was a bonhomie in her expression, and a frank good-humour in her smile, which was, perhaps, all that remained of Hannah Stubbs in her composition. Lady Loreley, who had been led by Miss Selwyn, to expect something altogether out of the common in the Marchesa di Sorrento, (--“Awfully good-natured, dear Lady Loreley, you know, but O! such a moving mass of flesh--like a female elephant--and says such queer things at times, but she thinks she can help you and so,” etc, etc,--) was quite taken by surprise, when Hannah, perfectly at her ease, but with unquestionable welcome beaming from her eyes, rose from the sofa to say how pleased she was to make her acquaintance. The two women sat down to afternoon tea together, and were soon on friendly terms. Naturally, the topic which engrossed Lady Loreley’s thoughts was not long in coming to the front.