For herself she was firm, but she hesitated when the Duchess, seconded by her daughters, requested most persuadingly, that if she would not come herself, she would, at least, permit Caroline to join them.
"You have known me so long, that I have the vanity to believe, that if I promise to guard your child as if she were my own, you will trust her with me," her grace urged, with a pertinacity that could not fail to be flattering.

"She will be as safe under my care as were she under the observance of her mother." "That I do not doubt one moment," replied Mrs.Hamilton, earnestly; "if I hesitated, it was from no doubt of either your grace's care or kindness.

If Caroline be willing to accept your invitation, and her father consent, she has my permission." "Thank you, my good friend; I trusted in my eloquence to prevail," the Duchess said, smiling with an air of sincerity that gratified Mrs.
Hamilton; and she quickly imparted to Caroline the accepted invitation, but in vain endeavoured to read on the face of her child whether she were pleased or otherwise.

Circumstances which caused Mrs.Hamilton rather to rejoice at Caroline's absence from London for a time, were to the latter great preventives to the enjoyment to which, in such elegant society, she might otherwise have looked forward.

Annie Grahame was, much to her own vexation, excluded from this select circle.