followed by the usual evening party, thus making
the same embellishment of the house do for two occasions, as well as
augmenting their visitor's opportunity to make acquaintance with the
Anglo-American colony in Florence.

* * * * *

All had been going so well, the guests were in such happy and talkative
form, that the minor matter of taking food had dragged, and the diners
were not ready to rise when a servant whispered to Mrs. Foss that the
first evening guest had arrived.

Mrs. Foss's eyes found those of Leslie, who understood the words
soundlessly framed, and excused herself from the table.

In the garnished and waiting drawing-room, lighted with candles, like a
shrine, and looking vast, with the furniture taken out of the way, she
found the Reverend Arthur Spottiswood, of whom it was not easy to think
that eagerness to dance had driven him to come so sharply on time. He
looked serious-minded, almost somber, and Leslie, though prepared to be
vivacious with peer or pauper, found it all duty and little fun to make
conversation with him until the next arrival should come to her relief.
The gentleman was Brenda's adorer, but Brenda would never, if she could
help it, let him have one moment with her. His love-charged eye inspired
in her the simple desire to flee. Singularly, this was, with one notable
exception, beautiful Brenda's only conquest, while Leslie, who was just
ordinarily pretty and wore a pince-nez, received tribute and proposals
from almost every unattached young fellow who drifted inside the circle
of her wide invisible net. Boys in particular had to pass through her
hands, receive good advice from her, be encouraged in their work,
cheered in their distance from home, and refused, and consoled for the
refusal, and sent away finally rather improved than otherwise. With very
little sentiment, she had a kind and cozy quality, like her mother.

The Satterlees were next to arrive, mother with son and daughter, and
Leslie was warm as never before in her welcome to them. The Reverend
Arthur was gently shed from her and with pleasure picked up by Isabel
Satterlee, who was charmed to have any kind of man to talk with.

Then arrived a group of unrelated people living for the moment at the
same pension in town and coming in the same conveyance. Among them was
Percy Lavin, who had the extraordinary tenor voice, and along with it an
exuberance of confidence in his future t