Emily Fox-Seton had fallen deeply and touchingly in love with this particular prosaic, well-behaved nobleman, and her whole feminine being was absorbed in her adoration of him.

Her tender fancy described him by adjectives such as no other human being would have assented to.

She felt that he had condescended to her with a generosity which justified worship.

This was not true, but it was true for her.

As a consequence of this she thought out and purchased her wardrobe with a solemnity of purpose such as might well have been part of a religious ceremonial.