ception-rooms two little girls, one in a pink folly costume, and the
other in a blue one, offered a bouquet of flowers to each lady. This was
held to be charming.

The reception-rooms were already crowded. Most of the ladies were in
outdoor dress, showing that they came there as to any other exhibition.
Those who intended remaining for the ball were bare armed and bare
necked. Madame Walter, surrounded by her friends, was in the second room
acknowledging the greetings of the visitors. Many of these did not know
her, and walked about as though in a museum, without troubling
themselves about the masters of the house.

When she perceived Du Roy she grew livid, and made a movement as though
to advance towards him. Then she remained motionless, awaiting him. He
greeted her ceremoniously, while Madeleine overwhelmed her with
affection and compliments. Then George left his wife with her and lost
himself in the crowd, to listen to the spiteful things that assuredly
must be said.

Five reception-rooms opened one into the other, hung with costly stuffs,
Italian embroideries, or oriental rugs of varying shades and styles, and
bearing on their walls pictures by old masters. People stopped, above
all, to admire a small room in the Louis XVI style, a kind of boudoir,
lined with silk, with bouquets of roses on a pale blue ground. The
furniture, of gilt wood, upholstered in the same material, was admirably
finished.

George recognized some well-known people--the Duchess de Ferracine, the
Count and Countess de Ravenal, General Prince d'Andremont, the beautiful
Marchioness des Dunes, and all those folk who are seen at first
performances. He was suddenly seized by the arm, and a young and pleased
voice murmured in his ear: "Ah! here you are at last, you naughty
Pretty-boy. How is it one no longer sees you?"

It was Susan Walter, scanning him with her enamel-like eyes from beneath
the curly cloud of her fair hair. He was delighted to see her again, and
frankly pressed her hand. Then, excusing himself, he said: "I have not
been able to come. I have had so much to do during the past two months
that I have not been out at all."

She said, with her serious air: "That is wrong, very wrong. You have
caused us a great deal of pain, for we adore you, mamma and I. As to
myself, I cannot get on without you. When you are not here I am bored
to death. You see I tell you so plainly, so that you may no longer have
the right of disappearing like t