last, but not least, you have
an assured position. The trouble is so apt to be, that those who attempt
anything of the sort are not known. All the talent in the world will not
be able to constitute a _salon_ unless one possesses, and is intimate
with others who possess, that indescribable something which every one
understands, but which it is difficult to put into words. Yes, Virginia,
you have a great opportunity before you, if only you choose to take
advantage of it."

Curiously enough, this view of Aunt Helen was quite similar to certain
ideas which I myself had been revolving since my return to conventional
habits. I foresaw that my interest in balls and parties merely as such
was sure to wane before long, and that if I wished to obtain continued
diversion from society it must be by force of some such programme as
that which she had suggested. In short, I felt that the tone and
standard of social life might be raised if one set about it in the right
way. As Aunt Helen said, there were really no reasons why my house
should not become a centre of elegance and refinement, which, however
far distant from the conception of a _salon_, might give pleasure of a
legitimate sort to a large number of people.

So much did this scheme grow upon me, that by another winter I was busy
in putting it into execution. Thanks to the past energy of Aunt Helen,
my house was already very nearly up to the mark as a model of luxury and
taste. I gave a series of entertainments which I sought to make as
distinguished and agreeable as possible. Upon a foundation of the most
fastidious and well-bred of my acquaintances I cast a sprinkling of
clever men who commonly found parties a bore, original but outlandish
women, representatives of every sort of talent, local and visiting
celebrities, and every desirable stranger in town. They all would be
glad to come for once, I knew. The vital point was to induce them to
come again. To effect this, I left no stone unturned and begrudged no
expenditure. I found it somewhat up-hill work at first, but none the
less were my efforts crowned with success in the end. My house grew to
be the favorite resort alike of the fashionable and the cultivated; and
to keep it so created an interest in my life which relieved the
sombreness of my other occupations.

In the pursuance of this object I gave free scope to a taste which I had
been educating in a quiet way ever since my youth,--that of collecting
pictures. I ha