next dance. She seemed to have lost a part of her gayety.

"What's the matter? Aren't you enjoying yourself?"

"Oh, yes!" she returned, brightly. "I'm having a delightful time."

When he came for his third dance, she was more distraite than
ever. As he led her to a seat they passed a group of women, among
whom were Mrs. Champian and others whom he knew to be wives of men
prominent in the town. He had seen some of them at tea in Judge
Stillman's house, and therefore was astonished when they returned
his greeting but ignored Helen. She shrank slightly, and he
realized that there was something wrong; he could not guess what.
Affairs of men he could cope with, but the subtleties of women
were out of his realm.

"What ails those people? Have they offended you?"

"I don't know what it is. I have spoken to them, but they cut me."

"Cut YOU?" he exclaimed.

"Yes." Her voice trembled, but she held her head high. "It seems
as though all the women in Nome were here and in league to ignore
me. It dazes me--I do not understand."

"Has anybody said anything to you?" he inquired, fiercely. "Any
man, I mean?"

"No, no! The men are kind. It's the women."