It was the middle of her first season, and, with a few reservations, she
was enjoying it immensely. The reservations were all directly or
indirectly connected with Aunt Philippa, for whom Chris's feeling was
that of an adventurous schoolboy for a somewhat severe headmaster. She
was not exactly afraid of her, but she was instinctively wary in her
presence. She knew quite well that Aunt Philippa had given her this
season as her one and only chance in life, and had done it, moreover,
more than half against her will, impelled thereto by the urgent
representations of her son and daughter, who looked upon their merry
little cousin as their joint _protégée_. She ought, doubtless, to have
come out the previous year, but her aunt's ill-health had precluded this,
and the whole summer had been spent in the country.

That excuse, however, would not serve Mrs. Forest this year. She had
taken a house in town, and there was no other course open to her than to
launch her brother's child into society, however sorely against her will.
Her main anxiety had fortunately by that time ceased to exist. There was
no likelihood of Chris, with her brilliant, vivacious ways, outshining
her own daughter. For Hilda was engaged to Lord Percy Davenant, who
plainly had eyes and thoughts for none other, and the marriage was to be
one of the events of the season.

Chris was therefore accorded her chance upon the tacit understanding that
she was to make the most of it, since Mrs. Forest still maintained her
attitude of irresponsibility where her brother's children were concerned,
although the said brother had drifted to Australia and died there, no one
quite knew how, leaving next to nothing behind him.

His sons and Chris had been brought up upon their mother's fortune, a sum