"I hope you fully realize my dilemma."
"It is terrible—terrible!" Olivetta's tone was slow, and full of awed dismay. "You must maintain your social position and there is no money!"
"Just so."
Detailed horrors of the situation began to move in spasmodic procession through Olivetta's mind.
"And your passage is taken on the Plutonia—and it has been widely announced that you are leaving for Europe—and that newspaper is going to print your picture among the social leaders who have sailed—and, oh, Caroline, all those reporters are going to fill the papers with long articles about your going!"
A new horror, that till then had escaped Mrs. De Peyster's inventory, a horror out-climaxing any in Olivetta's tragic list, burst suddenly upon Mrs. De Peyster. Her face went pale, fell loose.
"Mrs. Allistair!" she barely articulated.
"Mrs. Allistair?" Olivetta repeated blankly.
"Don't you see—if I stay at home—don't sail—Mrs. Allistair will use it as capital against me—and she'll ride over me to—"
"Caroline!" gasped the appalled Olivetta.