word. He would come over
quite near and look at her in a warm friendly fashion.

"Well, Aileen"--she could see his genial eyes--"how is it with you? How
are your father and mother? Been out driving? That's fine. I saw you
to-day. You looked beautiful."

"Oh, Mr. Cowperwood!"

"You did. You looked stunning. A black riding-habit becomes you. I can
tell your gold hair a long way off."

"Oh, now, you mustn't say that to me. You'll make me vain. My mother and
father tell me I'm too vain as it is."

"Never mind your mother and father. I say you looked stunning, and you
did. You always do."

"Oh!"

She gave a little gasp of delight. The color mounted to her cheeks and
temples. Mr. Cowperwood knew of course. He was so informed and intensely
forceful. And already he was so much admired by so many, her own father
and mother included, and by Mr. Mollenhauer and Mr. Simpson, so she
heard. And his own home and office were so beautiful. Besides, his quiet
intensity matched her restless force.

Aileen and her sister were accordingly invited to the reception but the
Butlers mere and pere were given to understand, in as tactful a manner
as possible, that the dance afterward was principally for young people.

The reception brought a throng of people. There were many, very many,
introductions. There were tactful descriptions of little effects Mr.
Ellsworth had achieved under rather trying circumstances; walks under
the pergola; viewings of both homes in detail. Many of the guests were
old friends. They gathered in the libraries and dining-rooms and
talked. There was much jesting, some slappings of shoulders, some good
story-telling, and so the afternoon waned into evening, and they went
away.

Aileen had created an impression in a street costume of dark blue silk
with velvet pelisse to match, and trimmed with elaborate pleatings and
shirrings of the same materials. A toque of blue velvet, with high crown
and one large dark-red imitation orchid, had given her a jaunty, dashing
air. Beneath the toque her red-gold hair was arranged in an enormous
chignon, with one long curl escaping over her collar. She was not
exactly as daring as she seemed, but she loved to give that impression.

"You look wonderful," Cowperwood said as she passed him.

"I'll look different to-night," was her answer.

She had swung herself with a slight, swaggering stride into the
dining-room and disappeared. Norah and her mother stayed to chat with
Mrs.