Her lack of wealth and assured position made her situation rather hopeless.

She was not of the class of lucky young women whose parents' gorgeous establishments offered attractions to wandering persons of rank.

She and her mother lived in a flat, and gave rather pathetic afternoon teas in return for such more brilliant hospitalities as careful and pertinacious calling and recalling obliged their acquaintances to feel they could not decently be left wholly out of.

Milly and her anxious mother had worked hard.

They lost no opportunity of writing a note, or sending a Christmas card, or an economical funeral wreath.