During the horrid period of suspense that followed her visit to Sir Justin, the Baroness von Blitzenberg naturally enough felt disinclined to go much into society, and in fact rarely went out at all during the Baron's absence, except to the houses of one or two of her mother's particular friends.

Even then she felt much more inclined to stay at home.
"Need we go to Mrs.Jerwin-Speedy's to-night ?" she said one afternoon.
"Certainly," replied the Countess decisively.
Alicia sighed submissively; but this attitude was abruptly changed into one of readiness, nay, even of alacrity, when her mother remarked-- "By the way, she is an aunt of the present Tulliwuddle.

I believe it was you who were asking about him the other day." "Was I ?" said the Baroness carelessly; but she offered no further objections to attending Mrs.Jerwin-Speedy's reception.
She found there a large number of people compressed into a couple of small rooms, and she soon felt so lost in the crush of strangers, and the chances of obtaining any information about Lord Tulliwuddle or his Eva seemed so remote, that she soon began to wish herself comfortably at home again, even though it were only to fret.

But fortune, which had so long been unkind to her and indulgent to her erring spouse, chose that night as the turning-point in her tide of favors.

Little dreaming how much hung on a mere introduction, Mrs.Jerwin-Speedy led up to the Baroness an apparently nervous and diffident young man.
"Let me introduce my nephew, Lord Tulliwuddle--the Baroness von Blitzenberg," said she; and having innocently hurled this bomb, retired from further participation in the drama.
With young and diffident men Alicia had a pleasant instinct for conducting herself as smilingly as though they were the greatest wits about the town.