She passed to the next, glancing first at the signature.
"Why," exclaimed Aunt Caroline, "it's from Mrs. Rokeby-Jones. Is it the Mrs. Rokeby-Jones?"
Now, Mary had never heard of the lady. She did not know whether she was "the," or merely "a," and to cover the point without committing herself to the unknown she nodded. Aunt Caroline nodded in return and read the reference.
"I am very pleasantly surprised, Miss Norcross," she said. "This is what I should call a very distinguished reference. Of course, we all know Mrs. Rokeby-Jones; that is, I mean, by reputation. Personally, I have never had the pleasure of meeting her. You see, my dear, I am rather old-fashioned and do not go out very much. Mrs. Rokeby-Jones. Dear me, why everybody knows her."
Mary almost said "Do they?" The name of Rokeby-Jones meant nothing to her.
"She speaks remarkably well of you," observed Aunt Caroline, again glancing at the reference.
Mary had not even read it. She was too much of a novice for that, and there had been too many things to distract her.
"Quite a cultured lady, I am told, Miss Norcross."
"Yes—quite."
Aunt Caroline was about to pass to the next reference, hesitated and glanced up.