nd the graces he has invented.

It is easy for a man to pick up the habits, tastes, manners
and dress of male citizens of the world, if he has as keen
eyes and as discriminating taste as had Palmer, clever
descendant of the supple Italian. But to become a female
citizen of the world is not so easy. For Susan to learn to be
an example of the highest civilization, from her inmost
thoughts to the outermost penumbra of her surroundings--that
would be for her a labor of love, but still a labor. As her
vanity was of the kind that centers on the advantages she
actually had, instead of being the more familiar kind that
centers upon non-existent charms of mind and person, her task
was possible of accomplishment--for those who are sincerely
willing to learn, who sincerely know wherein they lack, can
learn, can be taught. As she had given these matters of
civilization intelligent thought she knew where to begin--at
the humble, material foundation, despised and neglected by
those who talk most loudly about civilization, art, culture,
and so on. They aspire to the clouds and the stars at
once--and arrive nowhere except in talk and pretense and
flaunting of ill-fitting borrowed plumage. They flap their
gaudy artificial wings; there is motion, but no ascent. Susan
wished to build--and build solidly. She began with the
so-called trifles.

When they had been at Naples a week Palmer said:

"Don't you think we'd better push on to Paris?"

"I can't go before Saturday," replied she. "I've got several
fittings yet."

"It's pretty dull here for me--with you spending so much time
in the shops. I suppose the women's shops are
good"--hesitatingly--"but I've heard those in Paris are better."

"The shops here are rotten. Italian women have no taste in
dress. And the Paris shops are the best in the world."

"Then let's clear out," cried he. "I'm bored to death. But
I didn't like to say anything, you seemed so busy."

"I am busy. And--can you stand it three days more?"

"But you'll only have to throw away the stuff you buy here.
Why buy so much?"

"I'm not buying much. Two ready-to-wear Paris dresses--models
they call them--and two hats."

Palmer looked alarmed. "Why, at that rate," protested he,
"it'll take you all winter to get together your winter
clothes, and no time left to wear 'em."

"You don't understand," said she. "If you want to be treated
right in a shop--be shown the best things--have your orders
at