tainly seen its best days, if it
was not exactly shabby; no ornaments whatever were worn with it. The
fashion of garments at that day was, as I have remarked, very trying to
any but a good figure, while it certainly showed such a one to
advantage. Betty knew her own figure could bear comparison with most;
the one she was looking at would bear comparison with any. Miss
Gainsborough was standing in the most absolute quiet, the arms crossed
over one another, with no ornament but their whiteness.

'A good deal of _aplomb_ there?' whispered one of Betty's attendants,
who saw whither her eyes had gone.

'_Aplomb!_' repeated Betty. 'That is not _aplomb!_'

'Isn't it? Why not?'

'It is something else,' said Betty, eyeing still the figure she was
commenting on. 'You don't speak of _balance_ unless--how shall I put
it? Don't you know what I mean?'

'No!' laughed her companion.

'You might save me the trouble of telling you, if you were clever. You
know you do not speak of "balance," except--well, except where either
the footing or the feet are somehow doubtful. You would not think of
"balance" as belonging to a mountain.'

'A mountain!' said the other, looking over at Esther, and still
laughing.

'Yes; I grant you there is not much in common between the two things;
only that element of undisturbableness. Do you know Miss Gainsborough?'

'I have not the honour. I have never met her before.'

'I must know her. Who can introduce me?' And finding her hostess at
this moment near her, Betty went on: 'Dear Mrs. Chatsworth, do take me
over and introduce me to Miss Gainsborough! I am filled with admiration
and curiosity. But first, who is she?'

'I really can tell you little. She is a great favourite of my friend
Miss Fairbairn; that is how I came to know her. She teaches in Mme.
Duval's school. She is English, I believe. Miss Fairbairn says she is
very highly accomplished; and I believe it is true.'

'Well, please introduce me. I am dying to know her.'

The introduction was made; the gentleman who had been talking to Miss
Gainsborough withdrew; the two girls were left face to face.

Yes, what a face! thought Betty, as soon as it was turned upon her; and
with every minute of their being together the feeling grew. Not like
any face she had ever seen in her life, Betty decided; what the
difference was it took longer to determine. Good features, with
refinement in every line of them; a fair, delicate skin, matching the
pale