Such was the family circle of the de Courcys.  Among their present guests I need not enumerate many.  First and foremost in all respects was Lady Dumbello, of whose parentage and position a few words were said in the last chapter.  She was a lady still very young, having as yet been little more than two years married.  But in those two years her triumphs had been many;—­so many, that in the great world her standing already equalled that of her celebrated mother-in-law, the Marchioness of Hartletop, who, for twenty years, had owned no greater potentate than herself in the realms of fashion.  But Lady Dumbello was every inch as great as she; and men said, and women also, that the daughter-in-law would soon be the greater.

“I’ll be hanged if I can understand how she does it,” a certain noble peer had once said to Crosbie, standing at the door of Sebright’s, during the latter days of the last season.  “She never says anything to any one.  She won’t speak ten words a whole night through.”

“I don’t think she has an idea in her head,” said Crosbie.

“Let me tell you that she must be a very clever woman,” continued the noble peer.  “No fool could do as she does.  Remember, she’s only a parson’s daughter; and as for beauty—­”

“I don’t admire her for one,” said Crosbie.

“I don’t want to run away with her, if you mean that,” said the peer; “but she is handsome, no doubt.  I wonder whether Dumbello likes it.”

Dumbello did like it.  It satisfied his ambition to be led about as the senior lacquey in his wife’s train.  He believed himself to be a great man because the world fought for his wife’s presence; and considered himself to be distinguished even among the eldest sons of marquises, by the greatness reflected from the parson’s daughter whom he had married.  He had now been brought to Courcy Castle, and felt himself proud of his situation because Lady Dumbello had made considerable difficulty in according this week to the Countess de Courcy.

And Lady Julia De Guest was already there, the sister of the other old earl, who lived in the next county.  She had only arrived on the day before, but had been quick in spreading the news as to Crosbie’s engagement.  “Engaged to one of the Dales, is he?” said the countess, with a pretty little smile, which showed plainly that the matter was one of no interest to herself.  “Has she got any money?”

“Not a shilling, I should think,” said the Lady Julia.

“Pretty, I suppose?” suggested the countess.

“Why, yes; she is pretty,—­and a nice girl.  I don’t know whether her mother and uncle were very wise in encouraging Mr Crosbie.  I don’t hear that he has anything special to recommend him,—­in the way of money I mean.”

“I dare say it will come to nothing,” said the countess, who liked to hear of girls being engaged and then losing their promised husbands.  She did not know that she liked it, but she did; and already had pleasure in anticipating poor Lily’s discomfiture.  But not the less was she angry with Crosbie, feeling that he was making his way into her house under false pretences.