"Women sometimes."
"Not I, mamma; if you mean me. I hope for the credit of your discernment you don't."
"Lent will begin soon," observed the elder lady presently.
"Lent will not make any difference with Tom," returned the daughter.
"And little parties are more dangerous than big ones."
"What shall I do about the party we were going to give? I should be obliged to ask Mrs. Wishart."
"I'll tell you, mamma," Julia said after a little thinking. "Let it be a luncheon party; and get Tom to go down into the country that day. And then go off to Florida, both of you."
CHAPTER II.
AT BREAKFAST.
"How do you like New York, Lois? You have been here long enough to judge of us now?"
"Have I?"