CHAPTER XI.
THE FEMALE FRIEND.
Lady Szentirmay gained her object.

Her week's residence at Karpathy Castle had completely changed Fanny's position in the eyes of the great world.

Even the most prejudiced became more favourably disposed towards the woman whom Lady Szentirmay freely admitted to her friendship.

The proudest dowagers, who hitherto considered that they would be showing infinite condescension if they appeared at a festival where a _ci-devant_ shopkeeper's daughter would play the part of mistress of the house, now began to think that their condescension might bear a little paring down.

Rigorously virtuous ladies, who had doubted within themselves whether it were befitting to bring their youthful daughters to thread the labyrinths full of Eleusianian mysteries at Karpathy Castle, now ordered their dresses from the dressmakers without the slightest apprehension.