e got that old colonial blood in you too,
and are related to a lot of those old duffers one sees in the public
parks. The next time I go East I'll look at them with more interest."

Then she sat still farther forward, and her bright face took on an
expression of coaxing eagerness.

"If it hadn't been a man's luncheon to-day I should have asked you to
join us. But won't you come down to The St. Francis with me? My
automobile is at the foot of the bluff. We can motor afterward through
the park a bit, and out on the boulevard. It is a simply heavenly day."

Isabel hesitated, and lifted an ear to the floor above. There was not a
sound, nor was it likely that Lyster would make his appearance before
dinner. Paula had announced her intention of visiting her children in
the course of the afternoon; she would hardly awaken for luncheon. While
she hesitated Mrs. Hofer began to coax in her eager commanding fashion.

"Oh, do come! Please come! I'm mad, _mad_ to have you all to myself for
one day. Chloroform them--"

"You wouldn't lunch with me?"

"I _will_ entertain you first. Please, please, come!"

"Very well," said Isabel, laughing. "I doubt if they ever know the
difference. I won't be a minute getting ready."

She ran up-stairs, and during the half-hour of her toilette Mrs. Hofer
examined everything in the down-stairs rooms and nodded an emphatic
approval.

XXIII

It was nearly midnight. Isabel, her head still buzzing after a
kaleidoscopic day, which included much motoring and many words, felt no
inclination for bed, moreover was not only curious to hear Gwynne's
impressions, but felt a pleasant sense of anticipation in talking the
day over with him. He had telephoned that he was going down to
Burlingame for dinner, but should manage to return to the house in the
neighborhood of midnight. She wondered if he had met as many people and
received as many bewildering impressions as she had done.

If she had cherished a lingering delusion that aught remained of the old
proud reserved character of the society of her mother's time, it had
vanished before the chatter of her hostess and the experiences of the
day. They had not lunched at The St. Francis, after all. As they reached
the entrance Mrs. Hofer capriciously changed her mind, and decided to
make a dramatic descent with Isabel upon the house of a friend whom she
knew to be entertaining informally, and where she was always sure of a
welcome. The house was out