nce through a
gold lorgnette, and whose general appearance reminded Daniel of one of
the stuffed armchairs in the parlor of their new home.

"That is Mrs. Cornish, the speaker of the evening," whispered Annette.
"She is one of our most brilliant members."

"Yes," replied Dan'l, to whom the information had been imparted, and
upon whom the crimson silk had made an impression; "yes, she--she does
look sort of--sort of brilliant."

"But I thought the Chapter was larger than this," said the puzzled Mrs.
Dott. "I thought Scarford had one of the largest Chapters."

"Oh, no, not the largest, merely one of the best. Our motto always has
been quality not quantity. And now will you excuse me? They are waiting
for me on the platform. I will see you when the open meeting is over.
Phelps, find good seats for Mr. and Mrs. Dott."

She bustled away to the platform. The gloomy B. Phelps found seats for
the guests and himself and sank heavily down beside them. Daniel, who
had been gazing about him with curiosity, whispered a question.

"What do they do at these things, Barney--Phelps, I mean?" he asked.
"Are they like lodge meetings at home? This is my first trip here, you
know."

"Humph!" grunted his companion. "You're in luck."

"Talk, don't they?"

"Talk! Good Lord! Say, Dan, if I get to sleep and you notice Annette
looking this way, nudge me, that's a good fellow."

He settled himself in his chair and closed his eyes. Daniel turned to
his wife.

"Serena," he murmured. "Say, Serena, don't you think it is a
queer-lookin' crowd? Seems to me I never saw such clothes or so many
different kinds of hair. Look at that woman's skirt. It's tore all up
one side."

"Sshh! Don't speak so loud. That's the latest style."

"What! THAT? Well, I--"

"Sshh! It's the latest style, I tell you. Haven't you seen the fashion
magazines? All the new dresses are made that way."

"Yours ain't."

"Well, I--I'm not as young as that woman is."

"You wouldn't wear a thing like that if you were as young as Gertie; and
she wouldn't either, not if I saw it first. I never saw such folks as
these at Trumet."

"Of course you didn't. Trumet isn't Scarford. We are in society now,
Daniel. We mustn't show our ignorance."

"Humph! I'd rather show my ignorance than--Hello, the doin's are goin'
to commence."

The Chapter president, a Mrs. Lake, advanced to the desk, smote it
fiercely with a gavel and demanded order. The hall, which had been
buzzing li