t what I must
do is not to look like her. Sally Crothers detested her, and I've got
to overcome all that. I must show her I'm quite different." For a time
Ethel's mind dwelt on details. It must all be so simple, yet not too
severe. "For Sally is gay, I understand. What I want is to look
halfway between Mrs. Grewe and Emily Giles. Black? No. Dark blue,
with that old Rhinestone pin. Wave my hair? No, that's Amy again!"

But from such thoughts about her dress, or her tea table, flowers, the
lights in the room, her mind kept darting anxiously off. All this was
nothing! What should she say? "It's a woman of brains who is coming to
call. Think of all she knows--and she earns her living--she has a
profession of her own! How in the world shall I talk to her? She
thinks me like Amy--there's Amy again! Oh, Amy, Amy, I don't want to
hate you! You helped me once, you were dear to me, and you had heaps
and heaps of good points! But please, please stop coming up in my life!

"Don't get into another panic, my dear. When she comes you must be
natural. Your natural self--that always counts. Don't try to show off
what you haven't got. Show her only what you have. Make her feel
you're young and ready to learn--half mad to learn! No, that won't
do--not mad, but keen for everything--interested in her life--in all she
does and thinks and feels." She frowned. "No, that's too personal. And
you can't be personal in New York--not very--they don't like it here.
Every one's too busy. You must be interested in things--the town in
general--music--books--people in a general way.

"'Here's the kind of a girl who will grow,' she must say, 'and who is
worth my taking up!' But will she! Now here's that panic again! And
can't you see, you little goose, this is just what may spoil everything?
If you're scared, you'll lose! You've got to keep cool every minute
she's here! Who is this Sally anyhow? What has she done that you won't
do when you're as old as she is? . . . Yes, but don't you strike
that note! No woman likes to be reminded that she is ten years older
than any other woman on earth. She'll put me down as a cute young thing
who has a dangerous way with men. Dwight has praised me to her, of
course--but she'll put his liking down to that--the--the--the sex side!
I must show her it isn't, that I've got more, that I don't want men but
women now! But not too hard or eager, you know. Oh, I must watch her
all the time, to see if I'm getting any hold. And