"I beg your pardon," she said, and went on.
At the door she stopped again one moment, fronting them both, her head held erect, her eyes large and bright.
"When Senator Blundel left me," she said, "he told me to go to my children. If you will excuse me, I will go."
And she made a stately little bow, and left them.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
The great social event of the following week was to be the ball given yearly for the benefit of a certain popular and fashionable charity. There was no charity so fashionable, and consequently no ball so well attended; everybody was more or less interested; everybody of importance appeared at it, showing themselves for a few moments at least. Even Mrs. Merriam, who counted among the privileges earned by a long and unswervingly faithful social career, the one of immunity from all ordinary society duties, found herself drawn into the maelstrom, and enrolled on the list of patronesses.
"You may do all the work, my dear," she said to Mrs. Sylvestre, "and I will appropriate the credit."