amuse you, Mother," said the girl, with dignity. "Perhaps
you are above such things. Jacqueline and I are not. It was not pleasant
to be thought country green-horns by all those strange, staring people.
That author, Mr. Channing, was there, too,--and never came near me,
though I think he did dance once or twice with Jacqueline.--There is
nothing, nothing in this world," she said passionately, "as terrible as
being different!"

Somewhere in Kate's reading she had come across a phrase that stuck,
"The Herd-spirit, which shuns abnormality." She searched for the words
to comfort her child, and found them.

"My dear, since the world began people of unusual ability have found
themselves 'different,' and have suffered because of it. It is not a
matter of dress, or manner, or any outside thing, and assuredly it is
not a difference to be ashamed of. People like us," she said quietly,
"must learn to smile at the Herd-spirit."

Jemima's eyes met hers squarely. An answering gleam came into them; and
for the moment the barrier between mother and daughter was down. They
recognized each other.

The following week brought a pleasant surprise, and Jemima was comforted
further. It was a letter from an old school friend of Mrs. Kildare's,
Mrs. Lawrence, reminding her of their early intimacy, speaking of the
pleasure it had been to meet her two lovely daughters, and inviting them
to visit her in Lexington at a date named, that they might share with
her own daughters some of the gaieties of town life.

Kate suspected Thorpe's hand in this invitation. For twenty years Mrs.
Lawrence had lived within an hour's railroad journey of Storm, and this
was the first reminder of their friendship. But far from resenting the
belated kindness, she was deeply grateful for it; a fact which caused
young Jemima's pride to wince for her mother. She herself, in such
circumstances, would have returned the letter without comment.

Nevertheless, it was she who decided her mother to accept the
invitation. Kate had hesitated, dreading to expose her children for the
second time unprotected to the mercies of people who had ostracized her.
But Jemima said with her usual decision, "We must go, of course, since
you have no personal objection. It would be foolish to decline any
opportunity that offers. That is what Professor Jim gave us the party
for; to create opportunities."

"Is it?" asked Kate. "I thought it was to make friends."

"The same thing," explained