I
have no doubt your friend Mrs. Hilbrough is a very worthy person, Mr.
Millard. But she is new in New York society."

"Indeed I can not call her my friend, Mrs. Gouverneur. Her husband is
the real head of our bank at present; he is likely to be a very rich man
in a few years, and he has obliged me in many ways. But I have only a
few weeks' acquaintance with Mrs. Hilbrough, whose chief recommendation
to me, I must confess, is that she is a friend of Miss Callender, who is
your niece. But Mrs. Hilbrough seems to have many admirable qualities.
She is sure to make herself recognized, and I do not see any advantage
in delaying the recognition. For my part, I think she will do a great
service at the outset if she adds so attractive and clever a young lady
as Miss Callender to society."

"Now, Mr. Millard, you are playing a strong game against me," laughed
Mrs. Gouverneur. "You know my dislike for new acquaintances--for
enlarging my circle. But when you propose to persuade my niece to see a
little more of the world you are taking advantage of my only weakness.
You play a deep game."

"I'll show you my whole hand at once," said Millard, seeing that Mrs.
Gouverneur's penetration had left him no resource but candor. "I very
much desire to be Miss Callender's escort at Mrs. Hilbrough's reception,
if she will accept me. Mrs. Callender, I fear, can not be persuaded to
go."

"You want me for chaperon," interposed Mrs. Gouverneur. "What a clever
scheme! How could you dare to set such a trap for an old friend?"

"It will prove a clever scheme if it succeeds. But it wasn't clever
enough to deceive you."

"Well, you and Phillida together have won. Of course I can not refuse if
Phillida consents."

"Thank you from my heart," said Millard, rising at hearing the door-bell
ring. "I will see Miss Callender, and if she refuses me for escort you
will be able to laugh at me. I'm sure I'm greatly your debtor."

A notion, a mere notion, such as will enter the soberest woman's head
sometimes, had bobbed to the surface of Mrs. Gouverneur's thoughts as
she talked with Millard. It was that her niece's future might somehow
hang on her decision. She was not a matchmaker, but she had a
diplomatic faculty for persuading things to come out as she wished. Mr.
Millard would be a most eligible husband for any woman whose
expectations in life were not unreasonably great. Her practical mind
went a step farther and she saw that in the event of anythin