"Don't trouble about me. I should like to look round me here a little longer."
"You'll remember that some of our fellow-criminals may look in after five? Dr. Meredith and Lord Lackington said, as we were getting away last night--oh, how that doorstep of Aunt Flora's burned my shoes!--that they should come round. And Jacob is coming; he'll stay and dine. And, Julie, I've asked Captain Warkworth to dine to-morrow night."
"Have you? That's noble of you--for you don't like him."
"I don't know him!" cried the Duchess, protesting. "If you like him--of course it's all right. Was he--was he very agreeable last night?" she added, slyly.
"What a word to apply to anybody or anything connected with last night!"
"Are you very sore, Julie?"
"Well, on this very day of being turned out it hurts. I wonder who is writing Lady Henry's letters for her this afternoon?"
"I hope they are not getting written," said the Duchess, savagely; "and that she's missing you abominably. Good-bye--au revoir! If I am twenty minutes late with Clarisse, I sha'n't get any fitting, duchess or no duchess."
And the little creature hurried off; not so fast, however, but that she found time to leave a number of parting instructions as to the house with the Scotch caretaker, on her way to her carriage.
Julie rose and made her way down to the drawing-room again. The Scotchwoman saw that she wanted to be alone and left her.