The poor old lady had indeed been rather snubbed.

But what of that?
She was able to go back to her own intimate friends, and entertain them with accounts of powdered footmen, of richly-dressed London ladies, of a world of fashion which these people believed to be Paradise.
Twice during her week's sojourn she had been addressed by Mrs.
Ellsworthy.

No matter; from that day she considered herself one of the great lady's acquaintances.

Miss Martineau could be heroic when she pleased, and there was certainly something of the heroic element about her when she ventured to storm so mighty a citadel at eleven o'clock in the morning.
Her very boldness, however, won her cause.

The footman who opened the door might look as supercilious as he pleased, but he was obliged to deliver her messages, and Mrs.Ellsworthy, with a good-humored smile, consented to see her.
Their interview was short, but Miss Martineau, when she launched on her theme, quite forgot that she was poor and her auditor rich.