shade of green, the small bolero covered with iridescent embroidery,
the satin bosom a few shades lighter, sown here and there with beads in
colors that sparkled like gems. A very pretty, stylish-looking woman of
five and thirty perhaps. She wore two magnificent diamond rings and a
small star at her throat. The most critical taste could not pronounce
her loud.

Helen thought rapidly. Was that Mrs. Howard? She felt rather
disappointed.

Everybody went on with the luncheon and when it was through, Mrs.
Aldred, the guest, and Miss Bigelow retired to the drawing room. What
did it all mean? They heard presently. The lady was Mrs. Davis, the wife
of Miss Craven's guardian. Just as Morris had answered the door, Miss
Bigelow crossed the hall and recognized a lady she had seen a good deal
of in the summer.

"Why this _is_ delightful to meet a familiar face," declared the
stranger. "Is this where you are at school? We have a _protegee_ here,
at least Mr. Davis is guardian and trustee of a young woman and no end
of money, Miss Craven, do you know her?"

Morris was trying to usher the guest into the reception room.

"Yes, she is here," and Miss Bigelow did the honors; begged Mrs. Davis
to be seated. Morris came back with the word that Mrs. Aldred would be
at liberty in a few moments.

"Do tell me what kind of a school it is? The girl's grandfather died; he
was a queer old fellow, and the business was in a sort of muddle, but,
as I said, there is no end of money. I wanted her to go to a convent; I
was good enough to take her in and see what could be done in the way of
polishing, for you see she must go in society. She didn't take kindly to
the Roman Catholic aspect, but you know they never interfere with
anyone's religion. I had a friend come to stay with me while I was
giving a house party, a Mrs. Howard, who took a fancy to her; she had
scarcely been out of the woods, though I found she had come of a very
good family--Revolutionary people and a great-uncle, a judge in
Maryland, and several men of note. The Baltimore relatives are among
some of the best in society. If there had been no family back of her I
really couldn't have undertaken her. Mrs. Howard knew of this school; I
think she had a niece educated here. So she wrote, and the matter
somehow settled itself. I was engaged for Lenox, and two or three house
parties, and Washington, Charleston, and Florida. I do seem to keep on
the go most of the time. And this is really