ent concession to sociability would permit.

Therese with her pretty Creole tact was not long in bringing these
seemingly incongruent elements into some degree of harmony. Mr. Duplan
in his courteous and rather lordly way was presently imparting to Mrs.
Worthington certain reminiscences of a visit to St. Louis twenty-five
years before, when he and Mrs. Duplan had rather hastily traversed
that interesting town during their wedding journey. Mr. Duplan's
manner had a singular effect upon Mrs. Worthington, who became
dignified, subdued, and altogether unnatural in her endeavor to adjust
herself to it.

Mr. Worthington seated himself beside Mrs. Duplan and was soon trying
to glean information, in his eager short-sighted way, of psychological
interest concerning the negro race; such effort rather bewildering
that good lady, who could not bring herself to view the negro as an
interesting or suitable theme to be introduced into polite
conversation.

Hosmer sat and talked good-naturedly to the little girls, endeavoring
to dispel the shyness with which they seemed inclined to view each
other--and Therese crossed the room to join Fanny.

"I hope you're feeling better," she ventured, "you should have let me
help you while Mr. Hosmer was ill."

Fanny looked away, biting her lip, the sudden tears coming to her
eyes. She answered with unsteady voice, "Oh, I was able to look after
my husband myself, Mrs. Laferm."

Therese reddened at finding herself so misunderstood. "I meant in your
housekeeping, Mrs. Hosmer; I could have relieved you of some of that
worry, whilst you were occupied with your husband."

Fanny continued to look unhappy; her features taking on that peculiar
downward droop which Therese had come to know and mistrust.

"Are you going to New Orleans with Mrs. Worthington?" she asked, "she
told me she meant to try and persuade you."

"No; I'm not going. Why?" looking suspiciously in Therese's face.

"Well," laughed Therese, "only for the sake of asking, I suppose. I
thought you'd enjoy Mardi-Gras, never having seen it."

"I'm not going anywheres unless David goes along," she said, with an
impertinent ring in her voice, and with a conviction that she was
administering a stab and a rebuke. She had come prepared to watch her
husband and Mrs. Lafirme, her heart swelling with jealous suspicion as
she looked constantly from one to the other, endeavoring to detect
signs of an understanding between them. Failing to disc