re all self-made," Carmen confessed.

"I am, and I get dreadfully tired of it sometimes. I have to read over
the Declaration and look at the map of the Western country at such
times. A body has to have something to hold on to."

"Why, this seems pretty substantial," I said, wondering what the girl
was driving at.

"Oh, yes; I suppose the world looks solid from a balloon. I heard one
man say to another just now, 'How long do you suppose Henderson will
last?' Probably we shall all come down by the run together by-and-by."

"You seem to be on a high plane," I suggested.

"I guess it's the influence of the earl. But I am the most misunderstood
of women. What I really like is simplicity. Can you have that without
the social traditions," she appealed to the earl, "such as you have in
England?"

"I really cannot say," the earl replied, laughing. "I fancied there was
simplicity in Brandon; perhaps that was traditional."

"Oh, Brandon!" Carmen cried, "see what Brandon does when it gets a
chance. I assure your lordship that we used to be very simple people in
New York. Come, let us go and tell Mrs. Henderson how delightful it all
is. I'm so sorry for her."

As I moved about afterwards with my wife we heard not many comments, a
word here and there about Henderson's wonderful success, a remark about
Margaret's beauty, some sympathy for her in such a wearisome ordeal--the
world is full of kindness--the house duly admired, and the ordinary
compliments paid; the people assembled were, as usual, absorbed in their
own affairs. From all we could gather, all those present were used
to living in a palace, and took all the splendor quite as a matter of
course. Was there no envy? Was there nothing said about the airs of
a country school-ma'am, the aplomb of an adventurer? Were there no
criticisms afterwards as the guests rolled home in their carriages,
surfeited and exhausted? What would you have? Do you expect the
millennium to begin in New York?

The newspapers said that it was the most brilliant affair the metropolis
had ever seen. I have no doubt it was. And I do not judge, either,
by the newspaper estimates of the expense. I take the simple words
addressed by the earl to Margaret, when he said good-night, at their
full value. She flushed with pleasure at his modest commendation.
Perhaps it was to her the seal of her night's triumph.

The house was opened. The world had seen it. The world had gone. If
sleep did not come that