This first summer she was free to take her own course as to society,
for Janet cared for the Cambridge examination far more than for
gaiety, and thus she had no call, and no heart for "going out," even
if she had as yet been more known. Some morning calls were
exchanged, but she sent refusals on mourning cards to invitations to
evening parties, though she took her young people to plays, concerts,
and operas, and all that was pleasant. Her young people included
Jessie. Colonel and Mrs. Brownlow made her a visit as soon as she
was settled, and were so much edified by the absence of display and
extravagance, that they did not scruple to trust their daughter to
her for the long-desired music-lessons.
Caroline had indeed made no attempt to win her way into the great
world; but she had brought together as much as possible of the old
society of her former home. On two evenings in the week, the
habitues of Joe Brownlow's house were secure of finding her either in
the drawing-room or conservatory; beautiful things, and new books and
papers on the tables, good music on the piano, sometimes acted
charades, or paper games, according to the humour or taste of the
party. If she had been a beautiful duchess, Popinjay Parlour would
have been a sort of salon bleu; but it was really a kind of paradise
to a good many clever, hardworked men and women.
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