Chapter 11

           NextdayJuliahadluncheonwithCharlesTamerley.Hisfather,theMarquessofDennorant,hadmarriedanheiressandhehadinheritedaconsiderablefortune.JuliaoftenwenttotheluncheonpartieshewasfondofgivingathishouseinHillStreet.Atthebottomofherheartshehadaprofoundcontemptforthegreatladiesandthenoblelordsshemetthere,becauseshewasaworkingwomanandanartist,butsheknewtheconnexionwasuseful.ItenabledthemtohavefirstnightsattheSiddonswhichthepapersdescribedasbrilliant,andwhenshewasphotographedatweek-endpartiesamonganumberofaristocraticpersonssheknewthatitwasgoodpublicity.Therewereoneortwoleadingladies,youngerthanshe,whodidnotlikeheranybetterbecauseshecalledatleasttwoduchessesbytheirfirstnames.Thiscausedhernoregret.Juliawasnotabrilliantconversationalist,buthereyesweresobright,hermannersointelligent,thatonceshehadlearntthelanguageofsocietyshepassedforaveryamusingwoman.Shehadagreatgiftofmimicry,whichordinarilyshekeptincheckthinkingitwasbadforheracting,butinthesecirclessheturnedittogoodaccoutandbymeansofitacquiredthereputationofawit.Shewaspleasedthattheylikedher,thesesmart,idlewomen,butshelaughedatthemuphersleevebecausetheyweredazzledbyherglamour.