teful tap of her fan,
and were immediately banished to the dining-room, from which they
emerged redder in the face and puffier than ever. Dapper young men
arriving in cabs threw off their overcoats before alighting, and ran up
the steps in evening dress, went through their automatic greeting and
leave-taking, and ran out again to get through their task of making
almost numberless calls during the day. Steady old men like Mr.
Tunbridge and Mr. Schoonmaker, who had had the previous privilege of
meeting Mr. Belcher, were turned over to Mrs. Belcher, with whom they
sat down and had a quiet talk. Mrs. Dillingham seemed to know exactly
how to apportion the constantly arriving and departing guests. Some were
entertained by herself, some were given to Mr. Belcher, some to the
hostess, and others were sent directly to the refreshment tables to be
fed.

Mr. Belcher was brought into contact with men of his own kind, who did
not fail to recognize him as a congenial spirit, and to express the hope
of seeing more of him, now that he had become "one of us." Each one knew
some other one whom he would take an early opportunity of presenting to
Mr. Belcher. They were all glad he was in New York. It was the place for
him. Everything was open to such a man as he, in such a city, and they
only wondered why he had been content to remain so long, shut away from
his own kind.

These expressions of brotherly interest were very pleasant to Mr.
Belcher. They flattered him and paved the way for a career. He would
soon be hand-in-glove with them all. He would soon find the ways of
their prosperity, and make himself felt among them.

The long afternoon wore away, and, just as the sun was setting, Mrs.
Belcher was called from the drawing-room by some family care, leaving
Mr. Belcher and Mrs. Dillingham together.

"Don't be gone long," said the latter to Mrs. Belcher, as she left the
room.

"Be gone till to-morrow morning," said Mr. Belcher, in a whisper at Mrs.
Dillingham's ear.

"You're a wretch," said the lady.

"You're right--a very miserable wretch. Here you've been playing the
devil with a hundred men all day, and I've been looking at you. Is there
any article of your apparel that I can have the privilege of kissing?"

Mrs. Dillingham laughed him in his face. Then she took a wilted rose-bud
from a nosegay at her breast, and gave it to him.

"My roses are all faded," she said--"worth nothing to me--worth nothing
to anybody--except you