Lady Arpington had exclaimed: 'Enemy, Fleetwood ?' and Gower, in his ignorance of the smoothness of aristocratic manners, expected a remonstrance; but Fleetwood was allowed to go on, with his air of steely geniality and a decision, that his friend imagined he could have broken down like an old partition board under the kick of a sarcasm sharpening an appeal.
'Lord Fleetwood was on the point of going in,' he assured the great lady.
'Lord Fleetwood may regret his change of mind,' said she.

'The Countess of Fleetwood will have my advice to keep her footing in this house.' She and Henrietta sat alone with Carinthia for an hour.

Coming forth, Lady Arpington ejaculated to herself: 'Villany somewhere!--You will do well, Henrietta, to take up your quarters with her a day or two.

She can hold her position a month.

Longer is past possibility.' A shudder of the repulsion from men crept over the younger lady.