"
For about seventeen years, in fact, during which time Lord and Lady
Calverly had completely ignored the existence of their near neighbour,
Mrs. Purling. Compton Revel might have been a paradise, and the
heiress an exiled peri waiting at the gates.
The party assembled was after Mrs. Purling's own heart. They were all
great people, at least in name; and the heiress of the Purlings was
heard to murmur that she did like to be in such good society--she felt
so perfectly at home. And they all made much of her. One night she
was handed in to dinner by a Duke, another by an ex-Cabinet Minister.
The latter made her feel proud, for the first time in her life, of her
son, and the line he had adopted so sorely against her will.
"Mr. Purling's paper on toxicology," he said, "is quite the cleverest
thing that has appeared on the subject. My friend, Sir William--,"
he mentioned a physician of world-wide repute, "considers that Mr.
Purling will go far."
Lady Calverly followed suit by declaring that Mr. Purling was a
pattern young man, everyone gave him so good a character. They _did_
hope to see him at Compton Revel directly he got back to England.
Then Miss Fanshawe metaphorically prostrated herself before Mrs.
Purling, and by judicious phrases and ready sympathy completely won
her good-will.
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