He was neither prig nor pedant, and he was very popular in the best society; but he was not ashamed to let it be seen that his ambition soared higher than the fashionable world of turf and stable, cards and pigeon matches.
Though not of the gay world, nor in it, Lady Maulevrier had contrived to keep herself thoroughly _en rapport_ with society.

Her few chosen friends, with whom she corresponded on terms of perfect confidence, were among the best people in London--not the circulators of club-house canards, the pickers-up of second-hand gossip from the society papers, but actors in the comedy of high life, arbiters of fashion and taste, born and bred in the purple.
Last season Lord Hartfield's absence had cast a cloud over the matrimonial horizon.

He had been a traveller for more than a year--Patagonia, Peru, the Pyramids, Japan, the North Pole--society cared not where--the fact that he was gone was all-sufficient.

Bachelors a shade less eligible came to the front in his absence and became first favourites.

Lady Maulevrier, well informed in advance, had deferred Lesbia's presentation till next season, when she was told Lord Hartfield would certainly re-appear.