was delighted with
her. Expecting a talkative, intrusive person, assuming Frenchified
mannerisms, she was surprised to find a quiet unpretentious creature,
who immediately showed herself to be well acquainted with the duties
required of her. Within the first twenty-four hours she found herself so
much better served than by her absent maid, that she almost wished that
the mother would require her for a long time. Dora, too, was charmed
with Lucette.

"Queen," said she the next afternoon, "what do you think of your new
maid?"

"Who?--Lucette?" answered the sister. "O I think she does very well."

"Does very well? Why, Queen, she is a jewel. If you do not appreciate
her, I wish you would bequeath her to me when Sarah returns."

"O ho! So my young miss wants a maid to herself, does she?"

"O no! Not especially, but I want to keep Lucette in the family. She is
a treasure. Dressing the hair is not her only accomplishment either,
though I never saw yours look more beautiful. She has just arranged the
table for our 'afternoon tea,' and I never saw anything like it. It is
just wonderful what that girl can do with a napkin in the way of
decoration."

"O yes," said Emily, "Lucette is clever; but don't let her know that we
think so. It might make her less valuable. Now tell me, Dora dear, who
is coming this afternoon?"

"Oh! The usual crush I suppose."

"Including Mr. Randolph?"

"Queen, there is a mystery about him. Let me tell you. In the first
place, he has not been here for over a week, and then yesterday I saw
him coming down Fifth Avenue, and, would you believe it? just as I was
about to bow to him, he turned down a side street."

"He did not see you, my dear, or he surely would have spoken. He would
have been too glad."

"Well, if he did not see me, he must have suddenly contracted
near-sightedness; that is all I have to say."

Shortly after, company began to arrive, and very soon the rooms were
filled by a crowd which is aptly described by the term used by Dora. One
goes to these affairs partly from duty and partly from habit. One leaves
mainly from the instinctive sense of self-preservation inherent in all.

Dora was besieged by a number of admirers, and took pleasure in avoiding
Mr. Randolph, who was assiduous in his attentions. He seemed anxious to
get her off into the seclusion of a corner, a scheme which the young
lady frustrated without appearing to do so.

Mr. Thauret was also present, though he di