"Do you know," said Stephanie in a low voice, "that she is a modest, well-bred, and very beautiful girl?"
"What!" exclaimed Lily, staring at her in grief and amazement. "Of whom are you speaking, Stephanie?"
"Of Valerie West, dear."
"W-what do you know about her?"
"I have met her."
"You!"
"Yes. She came, with that rather common countess, as substitute delegate for Mrs. Hind-Willet, to a New Idea meeting. I spoke to her, seeing she was alone and seemed to know nobody; I had no suspicion of who she was until she told me."
"Mrs. Hind-Willet is a busybody!" said Lily, furious. "Let her fill her own drawing-room with freaks if it pleases her, but she has no right to send them abroad among self-respecting people who are too unsuspicious to protect themselves!"
Stephanie said: "Until one has seen and spoken with Valerie West one can scarcely understand how a man like your brother could care so much for her—"
"How do you know Louis cares for her?"