hough Althea thought the bows too large and the fashion too
obviously local.

Helen was in her old place that night, and she smiled at Althea as she
and her party took their places at a table larger and at a little
distance. She was to come in for coffee after dinner, so that Althea
adjourned introductions. Aunt Julia looked sharply and appraisingly at
the black figure, and the girls did not look at all. They were filled
with young delight and excitement at the prospect of a three weeks' romp
in Paris, among dressmakers, tea-parties, and the opera. 'And Herbert
Vaughan is here. I've just had a letter from him, forwarded from
London,' Dorothy announced, to which Mildred, with glad emphasis, cried
'Bully!'

Althea sighed, crumbled her bread, and looked out of the window
resignedly.

'You mustn't talk slang before Cousin Althea,' said Dorothy.

'What Cousin Althea needs is slang,' said Mildred.

'I shan't lack it with you, shall I, Mildred?' Althea returned, with, a
rather chilly smile. She knew that Dorothy and Mildred considered her,
as they would have put it, 'A back number'; they liked to draw her out
and to shock her. She wanted to make it clear that she wasn't shocked,
but that she was wearied. At the same time it was true that Mildred and
Dorothy made her uncomfortable in subtler ways; she was, perhaps, a
little afraid of them, too. They, too, imposed their own standards, and
were oppressed and enlightened by none.

Aunt Julia smiled indulgently at her children, and asked Althea if she
did not think that they were looking very well. They certainly were, and
Althea had to own it. 'But don't let them overdo their athletics, Aunt
Julia,' she said. 'It is such a pity when girls get brawny.'

'I'm brawny; feel my muscle,' said Mildred, stretching a hard young arm
across the table. Althea shook her head. She did not like being made
conspicuous, and already the girls' loud voices had drawn attention; the
French family were all staring.

'Who is the lady in black, Althea?' Mrs. Pepperell asked. 'A friend of
yours?'

'Yes, a most charming friend,' said Althea. 'Helen Buchanan is her name;
she is Scotch--a very old family--and she is one of the most interesting
people I've ever known. You will meet her after dinner. She is coming in
to spend the evening.'

'Where did you meet her? How long have you known her?' asked Aunt Julia,
evidently unimpressed.

Althea said that she had met her here, but that they had mutu