"Miss Whitburn has told me your party would be a great success. The star's name is a secret, I hear."
"Yes, one of Antonia's little secrets! Of course I never interfere with her plans now she is of age, but I must say I feel rewarded when I look back on the training of the wild colt she was when we first took her, little dreaming of the result."
"It must be an immense pleasure for you--though a girl with money is a responsibility, isn't she?"
"Ah! no one knows how many anxious thoughts I have had on that subject."
"And that was what I really wanted to ask you about, dear Lady Dove. I want your--help and sympathy."
For the great Lady Southbourne to be asking her help and sympathy made Lady Dove happy.
"You can always rely on my help, indeed you can! Mutual help is our greatest duty."
"I need not say that if you have a niece, I have a son to have anxious thoughts about--and I want you to know a little secret."
"Yes, but I don't doubt Miss Whitburn has already confided in you. Edward has proposed to her, but----"
"Oh, what an honour for Antonia, but, indeed, Lady Southbourne, yours is a family any girl might be proud to enter! Of course much above her in rank."
"Edward has no foolish ideas about birth, almost a Republican on that subject, but--I see that you do not know Miss Whitburn refused him and Edward is heart-broken."
"Antonia refused the----" Lady Dove gasped.
"She is young, she was startled, but with your help and advice she might--reconsider it. Edward is more bent on it than ever."
If Lady Southbourne had been sitting in the palace of truth she would have said her dear boy had just lost a large sum on the turf.
"Trust me, Lady Southbourne, you shall have my influence, and Antonia owes us so much. I hardly think she will reject so much happiness."
At this moment other guests began to arrive, but where was Antonia and the great man, and where were the Hamiltons? Happily Sir Evas was working hard and making everybody welcome regardless of their place in the peerage.
Edward Lang and his father came in time, belying the fears of Lady Southbourne, and Lady Carew and her correct husband followed. An Honourable or two, and a Colonel and his wife, made up the party of people worthy of meeting each other. Toney had only begged for the Hamiltons, Mr. Hales and Lewis Waycott, but this latter Lady Dove had refused as "that tiresome Miss Waycott would have to be included." For the concert everybody was coming, and a supper was to end this grand party.