Margaret was silent a moment, and then she said impulsively:
“Do excuse my asking such a thing, Cousin Eugenia, but I really want to understand. Could it possibly enhance your social value to be seen anywhere?”
Cousin Eugenia gave a little shrug.
“You put things so oddly, child, with your Southern notions! Of course our social position is fixed and definite and nobody would dispute it. But, large as the Kellers’ circle is, their parties are very recherché, and it’s well worth while to be seen there.”
“I thought——” began Margaret.
“Well, go on,” said her cousin, as the girl hesitated. “Out with it. Let me hear.”
“I was only going to say that I thought a lady, born and reared, never had to think of anything like that.”
“Like what?”
“Where she is seen and whether her associations will be considered correct. I thought that it would all come of itself—that a lady would not be in danger of making mistakes of that sort, because what she did would be the natural outgrowth of what she was.”
“Those may be the Southern ideas, but you’d not find them to answer here.”