rful to be an authentic beauty," she said wistfully,
glancing at the solid phalanx of black backs and sleek heads at the
other end of the room. "And she's ravishing, of course. The men are
sleepless about her already. Do assure me that she is stupid! Nature
would never treat the rest of us so unfairly as to spare brains for
that enchanting skull when she hasn't enough to go round as it is. I
believe I'd give mine to look like that."

"She's anything and everything but stupid. Ask Gora. They've met
already."

"Well, there's _something_," she said wisely. "Law of compensation.
Although any woman who can look like that should have a special
dispensation of Providence. Are you interested in her, Clavey?"

"Immensely. But I want to talk to you about another friend of mine."
And he told her something of Anne Goodrich, her ambitions, her talents,
and her admiration of the new aristocracy.

Suzan Forbes listened with smiling interest and bobbed her brown little
head emphatically. "Splendid! I'm having a party on Thursday night.
Be sure to bring her. She'll need encouragement at first, poor thing,
and I'll be only too glad to advise her. I'll tell Tommy Treadwell to
find a studio for her. I've an idea there's one vacant in The
Gainsborough, and she'd love the outlook on the Park. Witt can help
her furnish; he's a wonder at picking up things. Mother can furnish
the kitchenette. Do you think she'd join the Lucy Stone League?"

"No doubt, as she was brought up in the most conservative atmosphere in
America, she'll leap most of the fences after she takes the first. But
I don't think she's the marrying kind."

"I shall advise her to marry. Husbands are almost indispensable in a
busy woman's life; and there are so many new ways of bringing up a
baby. D'you like my gown?"

It was a charming but not extravagant slip of bright green chiffon and
suited her elfishness admirably, as he told her.

"I paid for it myself. I pay for all my gowns, as I think it
consistent, but I can't afford the expensive dressmakers yet. At least
I think I've paid for it. Witt says I haven't and that he expects a
collector any day. But I must have, because I told her to send the
bill at once so that it wouldn't get lost among all the other bills on
the first of the month. Your column's been simply spiffing lately.
Full of fire and go, but rather--what shall I call it--explosive?
What's happened, Clavey?"

"Good of you to enc