er first real function in Society!

"My dear friend," Mrs. Gosnold enunciated deliberately in a
colourless, placid voice. "(Colon, dash, paragraph) It was only late
last night, and then by merest chance, I learned you had come to the
island yesterday instead of sailing last week, in accordance with your
announced intention (period). So I cannot decently begin by berating
you (dash) as I should, had you been here twenty-four hours without
personally letting me know (period)."

A pause. Sally dreamed a beautiful dream of a crinoline costume,
beflowered and beflounced, such as Vogue had lately pictured as a
forecast of autumn fashions, an iridescent bubble of a dream shattered
by the query: "Where was I, please?"

"'Letting me know,'" she quoted absently.

"Oh, yes. (Paragraph.) I hope with all my heart your change of plans
was not brought about by any untoward accident (semicolon); but
Italy's loss is the island's gain (semicolon); and I am looking
forward with the keenest pleasure to seeing you again (period,
paragraph). May I hope that it will be not later than to-night (point
of interrogation)? I have arranged an impromptu masquerade by
moonlight on the terrace (period). It should be a pretty sight
(period). From ten o'clock till any time you like (dash) masks until
one (period). Do come and help make the evening a happy one for me
(period)."

Another contemplative pause. But this time Sally did not dream. She
sat quite still in speculative wonder, troubled with a vague alarm as
disturbing as the sound of distant thunder in the evening, of an
August day.

"Cue, please?"

The girl replied in a low tone: "'Evening a happy one'--"

"Yes. Add: affectionately yours--or wait! Have you written--?"

"'Affectionately yours'--yes."

"No matter; leave a space for my signature, and add this: P. S. You
will be glad to see, no doubt, that your letter to Adele has borne
fruit (period). Miss Manwaring does splendidly as an amanuensis
(period). Your judgment was always trustworthy (period). And address
the envelope, of course, to Mrs. Cornwallis English. She is stopping,
I hear, with the Lorimers at Bleak House--the grey stone house on the
hill at the end of West Harbor Drive."

After a time Mrs. Gosnold said almost sharply: "Well, Miss Manwaring!
You have little time to waste. Bring me the note, please, and a pen."

With a gesture of despair the girl twisted in her chair and showed the
woman a stricken face.

"Are yo