have said anything. I promised her I
wouldn't. I am _very_ sorry I did--"

"Dear me! dear me! how important we are!" cried Miss Row, whose temper was
far from being one of the best. "Let me inform you that we all knew of
Mademoiselle Leperier before you were born, and Mr. Somerset knew her
personally--"

Mr. Somerset stepped forward, colouring a little. "I--I am afraid I can
hardly claim that much," he said hastily. "She was so great and so sought
after, and--and so exclusive, it was difficult to get to know her--
unless,"--with a smirk--"one were a celebrity too."

Miss Row looked at him as crossly as she had at Esther. She hated to find
herself mistaken at all.

"But I thought," he went on hastily, "I would very much like to see this
celebrity of a past generation, the heroine of such a romance, in her--ah
--in her retirement. Perhaps she would not be so exclusive now.
A chat with her would be most interesting--such valuable 'copy.' I really
must try to accomplish it. Shall we call, dear Miss Row? I am sure you
and she would be mutually pleased."

Esther's feelings became too much for her. She did not know what 'copy'
meant; but she felt certain that this kind of person was the very last
Mademoiselle would wish to see.

"Oh, please don't," she cried anxiously. "Please, you mustn't go there.
Mademoiselle herself told me she did not want any visitors, and Anne told
me she came here on purpose that she might be quite quiet, because she
can't see them. Please don't go. If people call she will go away--
I'm sure she will. Anne says she had to move from ever so many places
because people would not let her be quiet. _Please_ don't let her know
that I said she lived here. I did not mean to--"

"Dear me! I suppose you have the exclusive right to the lady's society--
that, knowing Miss Esther Carroll, she does not require any other
friends!" Miss Row's sneering, sarcastic words brought the colour to
Esther's cheeks and the tears to her eyes.

"I didn't--mean--that," she stammered confusedly, bitterly hurt.
"You know I didn't," then turned away hastily that they might not see how
weak she was.

All this time the others had stood by listening, growing more and more
indignant with Miss Row, and more and more sorry for Esther. At first
they were afraid to say anything for fear they might make matters worse,
but Miss Row's last speech was more then they could bear. Angela ran to
Esther with blazing ch