This was hardly what she had expected or what she anticipated—she was not at all sure she was pleased.
Grace in the meantime left her card, and wrote on the top "In London for a short time with Lady Lyons."
In a few days Miss Penryn called, a very nice-looking girl, dressed with extreme simplicity. She apologized for her mother and brought her card, and an invitation from Lady Penryn for a meeting to be held in her house that week.
When she had left, Grace surveyed her elaborate white toilette and thought her lace frills too numerous.
"It is overdone," she said, discontentedly, to Lady Lyons.
"It is very sweet," said Lady Lyons, who was not thinking of her "young friend's" dress, but who was weighing in her own mind the pros and cons in connection with Lady Penryn's meeting.
She wished to make acquaintance; on the other hand she was terribly afraid of having an appeal made to her pocket, and she was one of many who make small payments to stated charities, and do not like spontaneous action.
Grace settled the point for her, saying with her usual nonchalance,
"You will make your first appearance as my chaperone, Lady Lyons."
After that she could make no objection, but she made many inquiries about Lady Penryn.