At first she went into those other worlds, under the flighty wing of her mother, and looked about her there.
Captain and Mrs.Duncan belonged to the Anglo-French society, which had sprung into existence since the downfall of Napoleon I., and was in some degree the outcome of the part played by Great Britain in the comedy of the Bourbon and Orleanist collapse.

Captain Duncan had retired from the army, changing career from one of a chartered to an unchartered uselessness, and he herded with tarnished aristocracy and half-pay failures in the smoking-rooms of Continental clubs.
Miriam returned, after a short experience of this world, to Farlingford, as to the better part.

At first she accepted invitations to some of the country houses open to her by her connection with certain great families.

But after a time she seemed to fall under the spell of that quiet life which is still understood and lived in a few remote places.
"What can you find to do all day and to think about at night at that bleak corner of England ?" inquired her friends, themselves restless by day and sleepless by night by reason of the heat of their pursuit of that which is called pleasure.
"If he wants to marry his cook let him do it and be done with us," wrote her mother from the south of France.

"Come and join us at Biarritz.