The room
grew warm, the air heavy with delicate perfumes. Men were mopping their
faces; some of the debutantes looked like wilting roses; the faces of
some of the older women were shining. It was midnight, the latest comers
had arrived, the floor was well filled.
"I wonder if I will be doing this twenty years from now," thought Julia.
"I wonder if my daughter will come to the Brownings, then?"
"... which I call disgraceful, don't you, Mrs. Studdiford?" asked Miss
Saunders suddenly.
"I beg your pardon!" Julia said, startled into attention, "I didn't hear
you!"
"I know you didn't," the other said, laughing, "nevertheless, it was a
low trick," she added to Mrs. Thayer, "and Leila Orvis can wait a long
time before she makes the peace with _me_! Charity's all very well, but
when it comes to palming off girls like that upon your friends, it's
just a little too _much_!"
"How's it happen ye didn't ask the girl for any references, me dear?"
asked Mrs. Thayer.
"Because Leila told me she knew all about her!" snapped Miss Saunders.
"What was she, a waitress?" Julia asked, amused.
"No, she was nothing!" Miss Saunders said in high scorn; "she'd had no
training whatever--not that I mind _that_.
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