When old Lord Brabazon had died at Nice she had come to Clavering Park, and had created some astonishment among those who knew Sir Hugh by making good her footing in his establishment.

He was not the man to take up a wife's sister, and make his house her home, out of charity or from domestic love.

Lady Clavering, who had been a handsome woman and fashionable withal, no doubt may have had some influence; but Sir Hugh was a man much prone to follow his own courses.

It must be presumed that Julia Brabazon had made herself agreeable in the house, and also probably useful.

She had been taken to London through two seasons, and had there held up her head among the bravest.