rned. Her face was flushed and
shining with excitement. She did not wait to remove her hat, but rushed
into the parlor where her husband sat in lonely magnificence. The
solicitous Hapgood, who had happened in every few minutes to see if his
employer "wished anything," had been ordered to "go aloft and turn in."
The tone in which the order was given made an impression and Hapgood had
obeyed.

"Oh, Daniel!" she cried. "What do you think? I've been made a member of
the Chapter!"

Captain Dan should perhaps have been enthusiastic. If he was, he
suppressed his feelings wonderfully.

"Have you, Serena?" he observed. "I want to know!"

He listened while his wife dilated upon the wonderful happenings at
the meeting and the glorious consequences which she felt sure were to
follow. Just before putting out the light he asked one more question.

"That--that Mrs. Lake?" he said. "She's a grass widow, ain't she--isn't
she, I mean?"

"Yes, what of it?"

"Oh, nothing. Only I thought you were kind of prejudiced
against--against--"

"I've had a good many prejudices, I suppose, like other people. But Mrs.
Lake's husband was a brute; Mrs. Black told me so. He must have been,
for she is perfectly lovely. I've met them all, and they are ALL lovely.
They're going to call and--and everything. Oh, Daniel, this means so
much to us!"

Captain Dan turned out the gas.

"Yes, Serena," he said slowly. "I shouldn't wonder if it did."

The calls began the very next afternoon. Mrs. Black, having made up her
mind that the taking of the Dotts under her wing was a necessity, made a
virtue of that necessity and explained to her fellow members of Scarford
Chapter that Serena and Daniel were really very nice people. "A little
countrified, of course. You must expect that. But they are very kind
hearted and immensely wealthy--oh, immensely." She was kind enough to
add that Serena was quite an exceptional person and an advanced thinker,
considering her opportunities. "The club people were going to take them
up, and so I felt that we should get in first," she explained. "If they
should prove to be impossible we can drop them at any time, of course."

In making this explanation she did not mention the Fenholtzes, and yet
if it had not been for the call of the Honorable Oscar and his wife it
is extremely doubtful if Serena would have become a member of Scarford
Chapter so soon. Also it is doubtful if the little dinner given by the
Blacks to Mr. and