The baroness and her companion lingered a little behind the others, in order that Madame Von Bruyin might show Lilith all those places of interest which a new-comer must see, but which had hitherto been neglected for other and more social pastimes.
It was, then, near the end of July when they left Paris for Switzerland.
They spent the months of August, September and October in traveling over the north of Europe, halting at no point for more than three or four days.
In November they went to Rome, and sojourned in the “Eternal City” until the first of January, when they returned to Paris, where the Baroness Von Bruyin, having laid aside her first mourning, plunged into all the gayeties of the capital, taking her young companion with her.
Everywhere they were very much admired. They could not possibly be rivals, even when constantly seen together. They were both so beautiful, yet their style was so dissimilar, so well contrasted, that they actually enhanced each other’s attractions.
Lilith was no longer in danger of receiving embarrassing proposals of marriage. The same mysterious agent which had started the report of her fabulous wealth was most probably responsible for another report, to the effect that the beautiful young widow was about to bestow her hand and fortune upon an eminent American statesman, to whom she had been for many months engaged. But she was none the less admired because she was inaccessible.
In February, however, the restless baroness, with all her party, crossed the channel, and went to London, to be in time to see the pageant of the queen’s opening of Parliament.
Madame Von Bruyin, through her friends, obtained admission for herself and protégée to the peeress’ gallery in the House of Lords, and from that vantage point witnessed the imposing ceremony.
But in all the solemn magnificence of the scene Lilith seemed to see only the queen, and through the queen only the almost peerless woman, wife and mother, and as Lilith gazed she sank into a dream of Victoria’s life.
Later on in the season our country girl from West Virginia saw the majesty of England once again.