And then again the more dissolute Italian youths of Milan frequented the Stanhope villa and surrounded her couch, not greatly to her father's satisfaction.

Sometimes his spirit would rise, a dark spot would show itself on his cheek, and he would rebel, but Charlotte would assuage him with some peculiar triumph of her culinary art and all again would be smooth for awhile.
Madeline affected all manner of rich and quaint devices in the garniture of her room, her person, and her feminine belongings.

In nothing was this more apparent than in the visiting card which she had prepared for her use.

For such an article one would say that she, in her present state, could have but small need, seeing how improbable it was that she should make a morning call: but not such was her own opinion.

Her card was surrounded by a deep border of gilding; on this she had imprinted, in three lines La Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni.
-- Nata Stanhope.
And over the name she had a bright gilt coronet, which certainly looked very magnificent.