I never saw Lady Midlothian till she came here the other day." "But you advised her to abandon Mr Fitzgerald." "Never!" "I know she was much with you, just at that time." "I used to see her, certainly." Then there was a pause, and Miss Palliser, in truth, scarcely knew how to go on.

There had been a hardness about Alice which her visitor had not expected,--an unwillingness to speak or even to listen, which made Miss Palliser almost wish that she were out of the room.

She had, however, mentioned Burgo Fitzgerald's name, and out of the room now she could not go without explaining why she had done so.

But at this point Alice came suddenly to her assistance.
"Just then she was often with me," said Alice, continuing her reply; "and there was much talk between us about Mr Fitzgerald.

What was my advice then can be of little matter; but in this we shall be both agreed, Miss Palliser, that Glencora now should certainly not be called upon to be in his company." "She has told you, then ?" "Yes;--she has told me." "That he is to be at Lady Monk's ?" "She has told me that Mr Palliser expects her to meet him at the place to which they are going when they leave the Duke's, and that she thinks it hard that she should be subjected to such a trial." "It should be no trial, Miss Vavasor." "How can it be otherwise?
Come, Miss Palliser; if you are her friend, be fair to her." "I am her friend;--but I am, above everything, my cousin's friend.