onder of the ignorant male, now, as it
were, behind the scenes. He fell back and the women left him unnoticed.

"What is it, Madame?" asked Margaret.

"Oh, French point, child, and very beautiful."

"And this other must be--"

"It is new to me," cried Miss Wynne.

"Permit me," said the vicomtesse. "Venetian point, I think--quite
priceless, Margaret, a wonder." She threw the fairy tissue about Pearl's
head, smiling as she considered the effect.

"Is this my mother?" thought her son, with increase of wonder. He had
seen her only with restricted means, and knew little of the more
luxurious days and tastes of her youth.

"Does you remember this, missus?" said Nanny.

"A doll," cried Gainor, "and in Quaker dress! It will do for your
children, Margaret."

"No, it is not a child's doll," said Mrs. Swanwick. "Friends in London
sent it to Marie Wynne, Hugh's mother, for a pattern of the last Quaker
fashions in London--a way they had. I had quite forgotten it."

"And very pretty, quite charming," said the vicomtesse.

"And stays, my dear, and a modesty fence," cried Miss Wynne, holding
them up. "You will have to fatten, Pearl."

Upon this the young man considered it as well to retire. He went
down-stairs unmissed, thinking of the agreeable intimacy of stays with
the fair figure he left bending over the trunk, a mass of black lace in
her hand.

[Illustration: "She threw the fairy tissue about Pearl's head, smiling
as she considered the effect"]

"Spanish, my dear," said Madame, with animation; "quite a wonder. Oh,
rare, very rare. Not quite fit for a young woman--a head veil."

"Are they all mine, Mother?" cried Margaret.

"Yes, my child."

"Then, Madame," she said, with rising color and engaging frankness, "may
I not have the honor to offer thee the lace?"

"Why not?" said Gainor, pleased at the pretty way of the girl.

"Oh, quite impossible, child," said the vicomtesse. "It is quite too
valuable."

"Please!" said Pearl. "It would so become thee."

"I really cannot."

"Thy roquelaure," laughed Mrs. Swanwick, "was--well--I did remonstrate.
Why may not we too have the pleasure of extravagance?"

"I am conquered," said Madame, a trace of color in her wan cheeks as
Mrs. Swanwick set the lace veil on her head, saying: "We are obliged,
Madame. And where is the vicomte? He should see thee."

"Gone," said Miss Gainor; "and just as well, too," for now Nanny was
holding up a variety of lavender-scented delica