Everybody desired to know the Fawcetts,
and they were the especial favourites of Mrs. Butler Cornbury. But
then Mrs. Fawcett did not visit Mrs. Tappitt. The girls and the
mothers had a bowing acquaintance, and were always very gracious
to each other. Old Fawcett and old Tappitt saw each other in town
daily, and knew each other as well as they knew the cross in the
butter-market; but none of the two families ever went into each
other's houses. It had been tacitly admitted among them that the
Fawcetts were above the Tappitts, and so the matter had rested. But
now, if anything could be done? "Mrs. Butler Cornbury is all very
well, of course," said Augusta, "but it would be so nice for Mary
Rowan to see the Miss Fawcetts dancing here."

Martha shook her head, but at last she did write a note in the
mothers name. "My girls are having a little dance, to welcome a
friend from London, and they would feel so much obliged if your young
ladies would come. Mrs. Butler Cornbury has been kind enough to say
that she would join us, &c., &c., &c." Mrs. Tappitt and Augusta were
in a seventh heaven of happiness when Mrs. Fawcett wrote to say that
three of her girls would be delighted to accept the invitation; and
even the discreet Martha and the less ambitious Cherry were well
pleased.

"I declare I think we've been very fortunate," said Mrs. Tappitt.

"Only the Miss Fawcetts will get all the best partners," said Cherry.

"I'm not so sure of that," said Augusta, holding up her head.

But there had been yet another trouble. It was difficult for them to
get people proper to meet Mrs. Butler Cornbury; but what must they do
as to those people who must come and who were by no means proper to
meet her? There were the Griggses for instance, who lived out of town
in a wonderfully red brick house, the family of a retired Baslehurst
grocer. They had been asked before Mrs. Cornbury's call had been
made, or, I fear, their chance of coming to the party would have
been small. There was one young Griggs, a man very terrible in his
vulgarity, loud, rampant, conspicuous with villainous jewellery, and
odious with the worst abominations of perfumery. He was loathsome
even to the Tappitt girls; but then the Griggses and the Tappitts
had known each other for half a century, and among their ordinary
acquaintances Adolphus Griggs might have been endured. But what
should they do when he asked to be introduced to Josceline Fawcett?
Of all men he was the mos