d to have her mother and
two cousins with her all summer and September, but Major Farrell found
it impossible to leave Mexico after all. Mrs. Farrell could not think of
leaving him, especially as his health had suffered very much, thanks to
their enforced sojourn in an unsanitary section of old Manila. It
appeared that the major was even an applicant for a pension on that
ground--a strange proceeding with one so overcharged with mining stock
and cattle profits. It might be a month or six weeks yet before the rest
of the family came, but Mrs. Dwight was eager to get settled under her
own roof where they would be an incumbrance to nobody, and she was going
that very day with Mrs. Stone in search of servants. Only a maid had
come with them, a maid whose ministrations Inez declared she _must_ have
if expected to appear to any advantage in the society to which her
husband was accustomed. Mrs. Stone knew of a good cook in town at the
hotel whom Mrs. Dwight might tempt away, and then the major had to hurry
to the station to superintend the unloading of their car of furniture.

Not until Tuesday night at the reception, therefore, did the Rays meet
Mrs. Dwight. Mother and son again came together, Marion in simple
evening toilet, Sandy, as required of all officers for that occasion, in
full-dress uniform. Mrs. Dwight stood at the colonel's left. The
adjutant, facing her, made all the presentations. She was gowned again,
as she was that night at Naples, beautifully, extravagantly, and her
jewels were, as then, too much in evidence. She had been looking, so
remarked her hostess, somewhat pale and sallow during the day, but there
was no lack of color, of radiance, of sparkle now. Her face was
exquisite in its dark beauty, wondrous in its witchery. Her smile was
sweetness itself, and many a woman envied her those perfect teeth rather
more than the diamonds. Her soft Southern accent lent a charm of its own
to her few words of gracious welcome and acknowledgment. It was noted
that she said very little, that she repeated much; but what she said was
so sweetly said, and the meaning smile lent so very much more to make it
all impressive. Her very attitude was one of supple, sinuous grace, and,
whatsoever may have been lacking in the form and variety of her verbal
response to Minneconjou's welcome, there could be no warrant for saying
that she did not look, at least, her part. Women stood and watched her
and marked the play of her slender l