again, bewitchingly,--"to say that we have a new
valet,--an ignorant fellow, for it is impossible to procure a decent
domestic in America,--and this untrained creature has to be drilled into
_les usages_: he has forgotten that madame only receives on Saturday.
Madame, however, would see _M. le vicomte_ at any time that was
possible."

"I am delighted to hear you say so," returned Maurice, "for I am very
desirous of having the pleasure of paying my respects."

"Madame is preparing for a _matinee_, at the Spanish Embassy. She is
just _coiffe_, and monsieur should see what a magnificent head I have
made for her. Notwithstanding my success with her head she is at this
moment in deep distress: her dress has not yet arrived; we expect it
every moment! Madame's agitation is overpowering. She is quite unequal
to encountering a disappointment of this crushing nature. She begs
monsieur will excuse"--

Before she could finish the sentence, the marchioness herself appeared,
wrapped in a delicate, rose-colored _robe-de-chambre_, prodigally
adorned with lace and embroidery.

"My dear M. de Gramont, I meant to excuse myself; but as I am forced to
wait for that tantalizing dress, a few moments with you, _en attendant_,
will divert my thoughts. I had heard from M. de Bois, that the Countess
de Gramont and her son, with Mademoiselle de Merrivale, are honoring
Washington by their presence; but I was informed that _you_ were not
here. You see I paid you the compliment of inquiring."

As she spoke, she glanced at the mirror opposite, and arranged the long
sprays of feathery flowers that were mingled with her braided tresses.

"I am highly flattered at not being forgotten," replied Maurice. "I only
arrived this morning, and hastened to pay my respects."

"And you ought to be very much flattered that I can spare you an
instant, at such a critical moment. Here is my toilet for this _matinee_
at a dead stand-still, because that tiresome dress has not come. It is
one I ordered expressly for the occasion, and, I assure you, it is a
perfect triumph of art,--a victory gained over great obstacles. Let me
tell you, nothing is more difficult to manage than an appropriate
costume for a _matinee_. One's toilet must be a delicate compromise
between ball attire and full visiting dress, but Mademoiselle Melanie
has hit the _juste milieu_; and succeeded in carrying me through all the
perils of Scylla and Charybdis. Oh, dear! oh, dear!" (stamping her