“We have been here just four days,” answered Miss Lyon.
“You have not been out much?”
“No; my grandfather has a crotchet that one must make one’s first appearance in public at the President’s reception. This is the first one that has been held since our arrival, and consequently the first evening that I have been out.”
“I am very fortunate in being here to go with you,” said Alexander, this time speaking, to his shame, quite truly; for he was glad to escort his beautiful cousin, if only to prevent Richard Hammond from doing so.
“Thanks,” she answered, very coldly, as if not believing his statement, or not valuing it.
The very short distance between the hotel they had left and the palace to which they were going was soon accomplished, and the carriage was drawn up in the rear of some fifty others that occupied the drive leading to the doors of the Executive mansion.
“There seems to be a great crowd here to-night,” said Alexander, while they waited their turn to drive up to the door.
“There is always a crowd here in the month of February, I believe. It is in this month that the city is full of strangers—literally full, Alick,” replied Anna.
It was twenty minutes before their carriage slowly worked its way up before the main entrance of the mansion. Then Alexander handed his companion down from her seat, and took her up the broad steps leading into the front hall of the palace.
A President’s reception has been described so often that there is no need of a description here.