But at first there had been no renewal of real friendship.

Alice had given her cordial assent to her cousin's marriage with the heiress, Miss Grant, telling Kate that such an engagement was the very thing to put him thoroughly on his feet.

And then she had been much pleased by his spirit at that Chelsea election.

"It was grand of him, wasn't it ?" said Kate, her eyes brimming full of tears.

"It was very spirited," said Alice.