Mrs. Pampinelli. You don’t look anything of the kind, darling, you look perfectly beautiful.

Mrs. Sheppard. All I’ve done is cry.

Mrs. Pampinelli. I know just how you feel.

Mrs. Sheppard. But I didn’t want you to think I’d entirely forsaken the cause.

Mrs. Pampinelli. Oh, my dear, we understood perfectly.

Mrs. Sheppard. But I just felt I had to come here tonight.

Mrs. Pampinelli. Have you been out in front, Clara?

Mrs. Sheppard. Yes, I just had to see it. I don’t think anybody saw me; I came in late, and stood way at the back.

Mrs. Pampinelli. They’d hardly see you.

Mrs. Sheppard. I don’t think so; I kept my veil lowered. Of course, I should love to have been right down in front, where I could get all those wonderful little subtleties. But, you know how it is,—I was afraid people might not understand my being here at all. It’s only three weeks, you know.