As she could not see herself as he saw her, she pleaded for
the jewels. She loved jewels and these were the first she had
ever had, except two modest little birthday rings she had left
in Sutherland. But he led her to the long mirror and
convinced her that he was right. When they descended to the
dining-room, they caused a stir. It does not take much to
make fashionable people stare; but it does take something to
make a whole room full of them quiet so far toward silence
that the discreet and refined handling of dishes in a
restaurant like the Ritz sounds like a vulgar clatter. Susan
and Palmer congratulated themselves that they had been at the
hotel long enough to become acclimated and so could act as if
they were unconscious of the sensation they were creating.
When they finished dinner, they found all the little tables in
the long corridor between the restaurant and the entrance
taken by people lingering over coffee to get another and
closer view. And the men who looked at her sweet dreaming
violet-gray eyes said she was innocent; those who looked at
her crimson lips said she was gay; those who saw both eyes and
lips said she was innocent--as yet. A few very dim-sighted,
and very wise, retained their reason sufficiently to say that
nothing could be told about a woman from her looks--especially
an American woman. She put on the magnificent cloak, white
silk, ermine lined, which he had seen at Paquin's and had
insisted on buying. And they were off for the opera in the
aristocratic looking auto he was taking by the week.

She had a second triumph at the opera--was the center that
drew all glasses the instant the lights went up for the
intermission. There were a few minutes when her head was
quite turned, when it seemed to her that she had arrived very
near to the highest goal of human ambition--said goal being
the one achieved and so self-complacently occupied by these
luxurious, fashionable people who were paying her the tribute
of interest and admiration. Were not these people at the top
of the heap? Was she not among them, of them, by right of
excellence in the things that made them, distinguished them?

Ambition, drunk and heavy with luxury, flies sluggishly and low.
And her ambition was--for the moment--in danger of that fate.

During the last intermission the door of their box opened. At
once Palmer sprang up and advanced with beaming face and
extended hand to welcome the caller.

"Hello,