whom did you ride?" demanded her sister, suspiciously.

"With--Mr. Richardson and a Mrs. Keen."

"Violet Draper Huntington!" ejaculated Mrs. Mencke, with indignant
astonishment, "you did not do such an unheard of thing?"

Violet bridled at this. She was naturally sweet and gentle, but could
show spirit enough if occasion required.

"Yes, I did," she returned, flushing, but tossing her small head
defiantly. "There were no friends excepting Mr. Richardson. Mrs. Keen
invited me to go with her, and, as I wanted to show the dear woman this
mark of respect, I went."

"Don't you know that it was a very questionable act to follow Mrs.
Richardson to her grave in the company of her son?" demanded Mrs. Mencke
sternly. "What do you suppose the people of our set would say to such a
proceeding?"

"I presume the people of 'our set' might consider it a questionable
act," Violet returned, with sarcastic emphasis. "Polite society is not
supposed to have much heart, anyway. But, to tell the truth, I thought I
was to ride in a separate carriage with Mrs. Keen, until I went out and
found Mr. Richardson in it. I was not going to wound him then by
refusing to go; and 'our set,' if it find it out, can say what it
pleases."

"I most earnestly hope that none of our acquaintances will learn of your
escapade; they would be sure to couple your name very unpleasantly with
that of that low-born carpenter, especially if they should find out that
you put on mourning," returned Mrs. Mencke, with an expression of
intense disgust.

"'Low-born carpenter,' indeed!" retorted Violet indignantly, and
flushing hotly. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Belle Mencke, after
what he has done for me? Wallace Richardson is a gentleman in every
sense of the word, and I am proud to call him my friend."

"Perhaps you would be proud to accord him a more familiar title, even.
Our friends would be likely to suspect that he was thus favored if they
should discover what you have done to-day," sneered the haughty woman.

Violet blushed vividly at this thrust, and for a moment looked so
conscious that her sister became suspicious and secretly alarmed.

"I don't care, Belle," Violet said, hotly, after a moment of awkward
silence, "it would have been very ungrateful in me to stay away and I
would do the same thing over again to show my regard for dear Mrs.
Richardson. Now, if you please, you may let me alone upon the subject."

"Look here, Miss Violet, you are trying