When she had been with Lady Marvlynn for three months, one might have thought that her whole life had been spent at Broxbridge.
“You have produced a visible change in the manner and demeanour of my pet,” said Lord Ethalwood; “I cannot sufficiently thank you for your valuable instruction.”
“Don’t thank me, my dear Lord Ethalwood,” exclaimed Lady Marvlynn. “She has natural grace, is so remarkably impressionable, so easily moved—her appearance is so distingue and her manners so winning, I assure you that she will bear the very highest polish. She is a diamond—a very gem of the first water. Still I do flatter myself she has greatly improved since I first became acquainted with her. I admit that, but at the same time am not vain enough to suppose for one moment that it is attributable altogether to me. I’ve done my best, and now the dear girl will be an ornament to any society or coterie.”
The earl smiled—he liked to hear Aveline praised by others besides himself.
When the London season opened Lord Ethalwood took Aveline to his town residence in Mayfair.
She made her début in the great world, and was received there with every flattering demonstration.
The earl’s prophecy was realised—her marvellous grace and beauty created a perfect furore.
More than ever he at this time regretted her unfortunate and ill-assorted marriage; but for that there was no rank she might not have attained.
The only thing that reconciled him in the least to it was the fact of the child’s existence.
There opened then to Aveline Gatliffe a most brilliant life. Nothing she had ever dreamed of equalled the magnificent reality.