Fancy entertaining the Duchess of St Bungay and Mr Bott!" Alice had now become so intimate with Lady Glencora that she did not scruple to read her wise lectures,--telling her that she allowed herself to think too much of little things,--and too much also of some big things.

"As regards Mr Bott," said Alice, "I think you should bear it as though there were no such person." "But that would be pretence,--especially to you." "No; it would not be pretence; it would be the reticence which all women should practise,--and you, in your position, more almost than any other woman." Then Lady Glencora pouted, told Alice that it was a pity she had not married Mr Palliser, and left her.
That evening,--the evening of Mr Bott's return to Matching, that gentleman found a place near to Alice in the drawing-room.

He had often come up to her, rubbing his hands together, and saying little words, as though there was some reason from their positions that they two should be friends.

Alice had perceived this, and had endeavoured with all her force to shake him off; but he was a man, who if he understood a hint, never took it.

A cold shoulder was nothing to him, if he wanted to gain the person who showed it him.