. As a consequence, he had not only opportunities for
much quiet feathering of his own nest, but the _eclat_ of always
having the use of the Follingsbees' carriages, horses, and
opera-boxes, and being the acknowledged and supreme head of
fashionable dictation. Ladies sometimes pull caps for such charming
individuals, as we have seen in the case of Mrs. Follingsbee and
Lillie.

For it is not to be supposed that Mrs. Follingsbee, though she had
assumed the gushing style with her young friend, wanted spirit or
perception on her part. Her darling Lillie had left a nettle in her
bosom which rankled there.

"The vanity of these thin, light, watery blondes!" she said
to herself, as she looked into her own great dark eyes in the
mirror,--"thinking Charlie Ferrola cares for her! I know just what he
thinks of _her_, thank heaven! Poor thing! Don't you think Mrs. John
Seymour has gone off astonishingly since her marriage?" she said to
Therese.

"_Mon Dieu, madame, q'oui_," said the obedient tire-woman, scraping
the very back of her throat in her zeal. "Madame Seymour has the real
American _maigreur_. These thin women, madame, they have no substance;
there is noting to them. For young girl, they are charming; but, as
woman, they are just noting at all. Now, you will see, madame, what I
tell you. In a year or two, people shall ask, 'Was she ever handsome?'
But _you_, madame, you come to your prime like great rose! Oh, dere is
no comparison of you to Mrs. John Seymour!"

And Therese found her words highly acceptable, after the manner of all
her tribe, who prophesy smooth things unto their mistresses.

It may be imagined that the entertaining of Dick Follingsbee was no
small strain on the conjugal endurance of our faithful John; but he
was on duty, and endured without flinching that gentleman's free and
easy jokes and patronizing civilities.

"I do wish, darling, you'd teach that creature not to call you
'Lillie' in that abominably free manner," he said to his wife, the
first day, after dinner.

"Mercy on us, John! what can I do? All the world knows that Dick
Follingsbee's an oddity; and everybody agrees to take what he says for
what it's worth. If I should go to putting on any airs, he'd behave
ten times worse than he does: the only way is, to pass it over
quietly, and not to seem to notice any thing he says or does. My way
is, to smile, and look gracious, and act as if I hadn't heard any
thing but what is perfectly proper.