"You have known the Wentworths for some time?"

Keith did not know whether this was a statement or an inquiry. She had a
way of giving a tone of interrogation to her statements. He explained
that he and Norman Wentworth had been friends as boys.

"A dear fellow, Norman?" smiled Mrs. Nailor. "Quite one of our rising
young men? He wanted, you know, to give up the most brilliant prospects
to help his father, who had been failing for some time. Not failing
financially?" she explained with the interrogation-point again.

"Of course, I don't believe those rumors; I mean in health?"

Keith had so understood her.

"Yes, he has quite gone. Completely shattered?" She sighed deeply. "But
Norman is said to be wonderfully clever, and has gone in with his father
into the bank?" she pursued. "The girl over there is to marry him--if
her mother can arrange it? That tall, stuck-up woman." She indicated
Mrs. Caldwell, who was sitting near Mrs. Wentworth. "Do you think her
handsome?"

Keith said he did. He thought she referred to the girl, who looked
wonderfully handsome in a tailor-made gown under a big white hat.

"Romance is almost dying out?" she sighed. "It is so beautiful to find
it? Yes?"

Keith agreed with her about its charm, but hoped it was not dying out.
He thought of one romance he knew.

"You used to be very romantic? Yes?"

Keith could not help blushing.

"Have you seen the Yorkes lately?" she continued. Keith had explained
that he had just arrived. "You know Alice is a great belle? And so
pretty, only she knows it too well; but what pretty girl does not? The
town is divided now as to whether she is going to marry Ferdy Wickersham
or Mr. Lancaster of Lancaster & Company. He is one of our leading men,
considerably older than herself, but immensely wealthy and of a
distinguished family. Ferdy Wickersham was really in love with"--she
lowered her voice--"that girl over there by Mrs. Wentworth; but she
preferred Norman Wentworth; at least, her mother did, so Ferdy has gone
back to Alice? You say you have not been to see her? No? You are going,
of course? Mrs. Yorke was so fond of you?"

"Which is she going to--I mean, which do people say she prefers?"
inquired Keith, his voice, in spite of himself, betraying his interest.

"Oh, Ferdy, of course. He is one of the eligibles, so good-looking, and
immensely rich, too; They say he is really a great financier. Has his
father's turn? You know he came from a shop?"

K