rd, there formed no
picture of it in her mind.

"I wonder what knops are," she said to herself drowsily. "I must
remember to ask Hattie."

There was a stir. Both doors of her room were open; the little
unobtrusive one into the dressing-room for air,--the window there stood
wide open through the night,--the large one into the sitting-room so as
to leave a free road to Miss Madison's room beyond. Through this now
slipped a slender form in a soft, fur-bordered wrapper, and with front
locks done up in curling-kids.

"You in bed?"

"Yes; I'm just reading my chapter."

"Livvy gone?"

Livvy, or Miss Deliverance Jones, was the maid they had brought from
America, a New York negress of the most faintly colored complexion, with
hair mysteriously blond. Her head was egg-shaped, her nose slightly
flat, her lip voluptuous, her brown-black eye sad as a homesick
monkey's; but she could wind a chocolate veil about her face and stylish
hat, and walk forth happy in the fancy that she passed for white. She
was an accomplished dressmaker and hair-dresser; she moreover had spent
some time in the service of a beauty-doctor. The ladies had secured her
just before sailing, and liked her, but did not talk freely when she was
present.

"Yes, she's gone."

"I'm not a bit sleepy, are you? I'm too excited. Let's talk."

She climbed on to her friend's bed, gathered her knees to her chin, and
hugged them, with the effect of hugging to herself a great happiness.

Mrs. Hawthorne closed her Bible and put it aside. The single candle by
which she had been reading showed the shining mirthfulness of the eyes
with which the two regarded each other.

"Wasn't it fun?"

"Oh, wasn't it!"

They spoke softly, whether because the suggestion of the late hour was
upon them, or they thought, without thinking, that Livvy might still be
near. They whispered like school-girls who have come together in
forbidden fun.

"I never did have such a good time."

"Nor I, neither. Oh, Hat, _isn't it_ fun!"

"_Isn't it_, just!"

"See here, Hat, you've got to teach me to dance. I was almost crazy this
evening, I wanted so to be dancing with the rest. Where d'you learn?"

"I went to dancing-school, my dear."

"No! Did you?"

"Yes, I did; all one winter. What are you thinking about? I've been to
parties in my life. Not many, but I've been. There was the Home Club
party----"

"Yes, of course. I remember how I teased once to go to the Home Club
party; but m