Now the Rowleys had not given Lady Milborough any special reason for loving them.

When she had first heard that her dear young friend Louis was going to marry a girl from the Mandarins, she had been almost in despair.

It was her opinion that had he properly understood his own position, he would have promoted his welfare by falling in love with the daughter of some English country gentleman,--or some English peer, to which honour, with his advantages, Lady Milborough thought that he might have aspired.

Nevertheless, when the girl from the Mandarins had been brought home as Mrs.Trevelyan, Lady Milborough had received her with open arms,--had received even the sister-in-law with arms partly open.

Had either of them shown any tendency to regard her as a mother, she would have showered motherly cares upon them.