concerned,
it was not because she wanted Society, but because Society didn't want
her. She flashed up in sudden anger, and clenched her fists, declaring
that Jack Evans was as good a man as walked the streets of New
York--and they would acknowledge it before he got through with them,
too! After that she intended to settle down at home and be comfortable,
and mend her husband's socks.

She went on to tell him what a hard road was the path of glory. There
were hundreds of people ready to know them--but oh, such a riffraff!
They might fill up their home with the hangers-on and the yellow, but
no, they could wait. They had learned a lot since they set out. One
very aristocratic lady had invited them to dinner, and their hopes had
been high--but alas, while they were sitting by the fireplace, some one
admired a thirty-thousand-dollar emerald ring which Mrs. Evans had on
her finger, and she had taken it off and passed it about among the
company, and somewhere it had vanished completely! And another person
had invited Mary to a bridge-party, and though she had played hardly at
all, her hostess had quietly informed her that she had lost a thousand
dollars. And the great Lady Stonebridge had actually sent for her and
told her that she could introduce her in some of the very best circles,
if only she was willing to lose always! Mrs. Evans had possessed a very
homely Irish name before she was married; and Lady Stonebridge had got
five thousand dollars from her to use some great influence she
possessed in the Royal College of Heralds, and prove that she was
descended directly from the noble old family of Magennis, who had been
the lords of Iveagh, way back in the fourteenth century. And now Oliver
had told them that this imposing charter would not help them in the
least!

In the process of elimination, there were the Misses Evans left.
Montague's friends made many jests when they heard that he had met
them--asking him if he meant to settle down. Major Venable went so far
as to assure him that there was not the least doubt that either of the
girls would take him in a second. Montague laughed, and answered that
Mary was not so bad--she had a sweet face and was good-natured; but
also, she was two years younger than Anne; and he could not get over
the thought that two more years might make another Anne of her.

For it was Anne who was the driving force of the family! Anne who had
planned the great campaign, and selected the Lamson p