This continued until early spring. In February Sibylla fixed her heart
upon a visit to London. "Of course," she told Lionel, "he would treat
her to a season in town." She had never been to London in her life to
stay. For Sibylla to fix her heart upon a thing, was to have it; Lionel
was an indulgent husband.
To London they proceeded in February. And there the cost was great.
Sibylla was not one to go to work sparingly in any way; neither, in
point of fact, was Lionel. Lionel would never have been unduly
extravagant; but, on the other hand, he was not accustomed to spare. A
furnished house in a good position was taken; servants were imported to
it from Verner's Pride; and there Sibylla launched into all the follies
of the day. At Easter she "set her heart" upon a visit to Paris, and
Lionel acquiesced. They remained there three weeks; Sibylla laying in a
second stock of _toilettes_ for Mademoiselle Benoite to rule over; and
then they went back to London.
The season was prolonged that year. The House sat until August, and it
was not until the latter end of that month that Mr.
Pages:
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621