at me disappointedly. "It's
very cold," she said. "Why don't you wear your fur coat?"

"I like this one better. It's warm and not so heavy."

"Your fur coat is the only one in Scarborough Square. A sure-enough
fur one, I mean. There're plenty of imitations. Mrs. Crimm's got an
imitation. You look awful grand in that fur coat--look like a
princess person. Grannie says you don't want to seem different from
the people down here. How are you going to help it?"

"I don't know. I mean--" It was silly that my face should flush
before Bettina's unblinking scrutiny, but flush it did. "I don't
want to seem different. People are much more alike than they
imagine. If we didn't think so much of our differences--"

"Bound to think of them when they're right in your face. You don't
suppose you're anything like Evie May Poore, do you? or Roberta
Wicks, or Mrs. Clay Burt? Every time I see Evie May Poore I wish I
was an Indian so I could tomahawk her hair. Most of her money goes
in hair and chewing-gum. Mr. Crimm says he thinks girls who dress
like Roberta Wicks ought to be run in, but there ain't any law which
lets him do it. Mr. Crimm's going to a big wedding to-night. Did
you know it?"

I shook my head. In my mouth were the pins with which my veil was to
be fastened. Hands on my hat, I straightened the latter before
putting on the veil.

"Well, he is. Funny, ain't it, that all these swells have to have a
plain-clothes man at weddings so the people what come to 'em won't
take any of the presents? That's Mr. Crimm's chief business
nowadays, looking out for high-class crooks. He says you ain't as
strong-colored as some the ladies he sees up-town, but he never did
see a face with more sense and soul in it than what yours has got.
At the last wedding he went to he told grannie some the ladies didn't
have on clothes enough to wad a gun. Are you ready? It gets dark by
five o'clock."

"I'm ready." Taking up my muff, I followed Bettina down the steps
and into the street to the corner, on which was the little shop
wherein were sold goldfish and canary-birds, and fox-terriers and
white rabbits; and from there we turned in the direction which led to
Mrs. Gibbons's. The day was cold and clear, but the ground was
slippery with sleet, and, holding on to my arm, Bettina made valiant
effort to pilot me aright.

As we walked she talked, and the names of the occupants of various
houses passed were told to me, toge