Leaving Mrs. Walling in the carriage, but taking her card, he entered the office of the house and gave it, with his own, to the janitor’s boy, who took them upstairs.
In five minutes the boy came down and reported that Mrs. Cleve Stuart was at home, and would the gentleman and lady come up?
Ran returned to the carriage, assisted Mrs. Walling to alight, and conducted her into the house; they entered the elevator and were soon “landed” at the door of the private hall leading into the Stuarts’ suite of apartments.
The boy opened the parlor door and they entered.
Palma, neatly dressed in her well-worn, best suit of crimson cashmere, with its narrow, white frills at throat and wrists, and her curly, black hair lightly shading her forehead, arose from her chair and came forward with shy grace to receive her visitors.
“This is Mrs. Samuel Walling, dear Cousin Palma. She does me the honor to be my good friend. Mrs. Walling, my cousin, Mrs. Cleve Stuart,” said Ran, going through the introduction as well as he could.
Palma put out her hand shyly, half in doubt whether she should do so or not, and murmured:
“I am very happy to see you, madam.”
But Mrs. Walling took her hand with a frank and cordial smile and said:
“I am delighted to know you! I should have recognized you without an introduction, anywhere, from your likeness to your cousin here! Why, you might be twins.”