She often found Mr. Bantling's answers very convenient, and in the
press of catching the American post would largely and showily
address them to publicity. It was to be feared that she was indeed
drifting toward those abysses of sophistication as to which Isabel,
wishing for a good-humoured retort, had warned her. There might be
danger in store for Isabel; but it was scarcely to be hoped that
Miss Stackpole, on her side, would find permanent rest in any adoption
of the views of a class pledged to all the old abuses. Isabel
continued to warn her good-humouredly; Lady Pensil's obliging
brother was sometimes, on our heroine's lips, an object of
irreverent and facetious allusion. Nothing, however, could exceed
Henrietta's amiability on this point; she used to abound in the
sense of Isabel's irony and to enumerate with elation the hours she
had spent with this perfect man of the world- a term that had ceased
to make with her, as previously, for opprobrium. Then, a few moments
later, she would forget that they had been talking jocosely and
would mention with impulsive earnestness some expedition she had
enjoyed in his company. She would say: "Oh, I know all about
Versailles; I went there with Mr.
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