"What does it matter what I think? It is not I who have appointed him."
"Not so sure," laughed the Duchess. "As if he would have had a chance without you. Whom did he know last November when you took him up?"
Julie moved to and fro, her hands behind her. The tremor on her lip, the light in her eye showed her sense of triumph.
"What have I done," she said, laughing, "but push a few stones out of the way of merit?"
"Some of them were heavy," said the Duchess, making a little face. "Need I invite Lady Froswick any more?"
Julie threw her arms about her.
"Evelyn, what a darling you've been! Now I'll never worry you again."
"Oh, for some people I would do ten times as much!" cried the Duchess. "But, Julie, I wish I knew why you think so well of this man. I--I don't always hear very nice things about him."
"I dare say not," said Julie, flushing. "It is easy to hate success."
"No, come, we're not as mean as that!" cried the Duchess. "I vow that all the heroes I've ever known had a ripping time. Julie"--she kissed her friend impulsively--"Julie, don't like him too much. I don't think he's good enough."