they
seemed too small, for numerousness is rather indispensable to this
species of entertainment. A reception is in its essence entertainment by
wholesale.

"If you could give a reception in honor of somebody," he suggested,
remembering Philip Gouverneur's suggestion, "it might serve to attract
many beyond your own circle, and--and--give you a reason for asking
people whom--you know but slightly, if at all."

But Mrs. Hilbrough did not know any proper person to honor with a
reception. Her embarrassment was considerable at finding herself so
poorly provided with ways and means, and she was slowly coming to the
conclusion that she must wait another winter, or take other means of
widening her acquaintance. A plan had occurred to Millard by which he
could help her out of the difficulty. But as it involved considerable
trouble and risk on his part, he rejected it. There was no reason why he
should go too far in helping the Hilbroughs. It was not a case for
self-sacrifice.

Hilbrough, in the nursery, had found the youngest little girl suffering
with a slight cold,--nothing more than a case of infantile
sniffles,--but Hilbrough's affection had magnified it into incipient
croup or pneumonia, and, after a fruitless search for the vial of tolu
and squills, he dispatched the maid to call Mrs. Hilbrough.

When they were left alone, Millard turned to Phillida, who had shown
nearly as much disappointment over the possible postponement of Mrs.
Hilbrough's project as the projector herself.

"You are deeply interested in this affair, too, Miss Callender," he
said.

"I don't care much for such things myself, but I should dislike to see
Mrs. Hilbrough disappointed," answered Phillida. "She has been such a
good friend to me, and in time of the greatest trouble she was such a
friend to my family, and especially"--she hesitated--"to my father, who
died two years ago, that I am interested in whatever concerns her
happiness or even her pleasure."

Somehow this changed the color of the enterprise in the eyes of Charles
Millard. The personality of Miss Callender was interesting to him, and
besides she was Mrs. Gouverneur's niece. It seemed worth while
gratifying Mrs. Hilbrough at considerable cost if it would give pleasure
to this peculiar young lady.

"Well, with such a certificate of Mrs. Hilbrough's qualities," said
Millard, after a pause, "we must strain a point and get up this
reception for her. We must be good to the good. We c