o meself, and now that
life is easy it's most the only side I've got left. Sit down in that
corner behind the bookcase and I'll read to you from one of the old
poets, Byron, belike. If Ada finds us, I'll send her kiting. She didn't
bring me up."

When Isabel, in the solitude of her bed, found time to think, she
concluded that if she could eliminate all men from her week except Mr.
Hofer and those of his particular set, she might still enjoy herself.
The San Francisco society youth has always been a failure. Except in
rare instances he has not been outside his native State, has read
nothing, and is casual of manner. Although more young men of the favored
class attend the home universities than formerly, the students that
derive the full benefit of these institutions are rarely those that
intend to make a business of dancing, and calling on Sunday afternoons.
It is yet too soon to weld cultivation with leisure, and, for the matter
of that, most of the society youth have their living to make, combining
business and fashion with a moderate success. Like Wellington's puppies,
they have proved themselves of sound metal when put to the crucial test,
but as an intellectual diversion they might as well be mechanical toys.
The leader has not yet arisen that can permanently combine the older and
younger sets. They mingle at great functions, but the dancing set
monopolizes the season's stage.

Of this set Mrs. Hofer was an enthusiastic member, and even at dinner
rarely entertained any other. Occasionally, and once during Isabel's
visit, she invited some friends of her husband, who never went to
parties, and often entertained when his wife was elsewhere; but these
men did as much talking as listening, and that was no part of Mrs.
Hofer's system. Isabel had flashing vistas of small groups of men and
women, distinguished socially as well as mentally, that entertained each
other, or met at a new club through which Mrs. Hofer whisked her one
night,--a club where the best of Bohemia met the more intellectual
members of society; and she knew that in these groups she might find
also the higher class business and professional men, and a few of
leisure that enjoyed life without either dancing or drinking. But Mrs.
Hofer, although far too well satisfied with life and herself to be a
snob, loved brilliancy, splendor, constant excitement, dancing, chatter;
and only her chosen set could provide the banquet. She could dance every
night from ten