"You don't say. I ain't curious, but you don't look as if you had to
stay to home and do the work. But Amurrican girls are so smart they
can about look anything they have a mind to." "Oh--I am really sorry,
but everybody seems to be going, and I haven't spoken to Lady Mary
yet. I'm _so_ much obliged to you."

"Now, you needn't be, for you're a real nice young lady, and I've
enjoyed talkin' to you. Likely we'll meet again, but I'd be happy to
have you call. Here's my card. Our house is right near here--in the
real fashionable part; and we've several ladies livin' with us that
you might like to meet."

"Oh, thanks! thanks!" Betty put the card carefully into her case,
shook her new friend warmly by the hand, and went forward. Lady Mary's
tired white face had set into an almost mechanical smile, but as her
eyes met Betty's they illumined with sudden interest and her hard-
worked muscles relaxed.

"You are Betty Madison!" she exclaimed. And as the two girls shook
hands they conceived one of those sudden and violent friendships which
are so full of interest while they last.

"How awfully good of you to call so soon!" continued Lady Mary, after
Betty had expatiated upon her long-cherished desire for this meeting.
"I hoped you would, although Miss Carter rather frightened me with her
account of your mother's aversion to political people. But they have
all been so good to me--all your delightful set." She lowered her
voice, which had rung out for a moment in something of its old style,
albeit platitudes had worn upon its edges. "I _couldn't_ stand just
this--although I must add that many of the official women are charming