ed with the steps of the best people.
Without, there stood lines of motor-cars in the shabby and unaccustomed
street, ten times as many as there had been in May. Within--to prove at
a stroke the tone of the gathering--J. Forsythe Avery himself stood
conspicuously at the very door: not merely stood, but labored behind a
deal table for the cause, distributing Settlement pamphlets, brochures
or treatises, to all comers. He irresistibly reminded Carlisle of one of
those lordly men in gold-lace outside a painless dentist's parlors. Many
others of the conquering order there were observed also, almost in the
first glance; chiefly congregating in the new assembly room, where the
"opening reception" was under way, but also deploying in numbers all
over the lower floor and the remodeled basement beneath.

It was the Heths' first public appearance since their home-coming, and
perhaps even mamma felt a little bit self-conscious. But Carlisle had
come with serious intentions, and a manner of determined vivacity. Let
people find anything to gloat over in her appearance, if they could.
Glancing about as they left Mr. Avery, she saw that the old court or
lobby, where she had stood and talked once on a rainy May day, had been
left intact, only renovated somewhat as to floor and walls. On one side
of it now ran down a row of offices with new glass doors, the first of
them, marked "Mr. Pond." On the other side, a great arched doorway led
into the large meeting-room, formed by the demolition of many
partitions. Changed indeed it all was: yet Cally found it quite
disturbingly familiar too....

Beyond the arched doorway stood a little group of the best men and
women: a reception committee clearly, and Mrs. Heth had not been asked
to serve upon it, as she was instantly and indignantly conscious.
However, she was one to bear martyrdom nobly, knowing that truth would
prevail in the end; and accordingly she greeted Byrds, Daynes, and
others with marked and lingering cordiality. Carlisle, passing down the
receiving line more quickly, soon found herself introduced to Pond, the
imported Director, according to her plan. The phrase is accurate, for
Mr. Pond appeared to be panjandrum here, and people of all degree were
presented to him, as to royalty. Frequent hearing of the man's name in
the last few days had suggested nothing to Carlisle, but the moment she
caught sight of his keen face with the powerful blue-tinged jaw, she
recalled that she had s