rix had learned
to her cost.

Seated by the tea-table, balancing a Sevres cup in her hand, Mrs. Lloyd
Avalons appeared to be casting about in her mind for a subject of
conversation. Bobby came to her relief.

"When you appeared, Mrs. Avalons, we were just speaking of mummies. Have
you seen the latest importation at the Metropolitan?"

"Mr. Dane!" she remonstrated hastily. "Do you suppose I--"

"Certainly," Bobby assured her gravely. "I often spend an hour looking
at them, and I always feel the better for the time passed in their
society. They remind me of the futility of earthly things, and inspire
me to higher aims."

Mrs. Lloyd Avalons smiled faintly.

"You literary people have strange thoughts," she observed, addressing
the room at large. "I have often thought I should like to write, if I
only had the time."

"Why don't you?" Bobby inquired blandly. "The result would be sure to be
interesting."

But Beatrix interposed.

"Are you as busy as ever, Mrs. Avalons?"

"Busier. It is such a bore to be in this perpetual rush; but I can't
seem to help it. Lent didn't bring me any rest, this year; and, now that
Easter is over, it seems to me that we are more gay than ever."

"That is the penalty of having an early Easter," Sally suggested. "We
had to stop for Lent in the middle of the season, and now we are
finishing up the sins of which we have already repented."

"Oh--yes," Mrs. Lloyd Avalons responded blankly.

"Can you get all your arrears of penitence done up in six weeks, Sally?"
Bobby asked, as he passed her the almonds.

"Yes, if I've not seen too much of you," she returned. "Mrs. Avalons,
when are you going to give us another recital?"

Mrs. Lloyd Avalons rose to the cast.

"Wasn't that a success? Mr. Thayer quite covered himself with glory."

"His mantle fell over some of the rest of us, and we gained lustre from
his glory." Sally's tone was slightly malicious.

"He is certainly a great artist, and I am proud to have discovered him."

"But I thought Mrs. Stanley discovered him. He sang for her first."

Mrs. Lloyd Avalons straightened in her chair. She had no intention of
allowing to Mrs. Stanley the prestige which belonged to herself. Mrs.
Stanley was several rounds farther up the social ladder than she was,
herself; but Mrs. Stanley lacked initiative and was rapidly losing her
start. In the seasons to come, she would find herself playing the part
of understudy to Mrs. Lloyd Avalons.

"Oh, M