“My dear Honora,” cried Mrs. Holt, who had hurried after her daughter, “you're not going?”
Honora suddenly found herself without an excuse.
“I really ought to, Mrs. Holt. I've had such a good time-and I've been so interested. I never realized that such things occurred. And I've got one of the reports, which I intend to read over again.”
“But my dear,” protested Mrs. Holt, “you must meet some of the members of the Society. Bessie!”
Mrs. Grainger, indeed—for Honora had been right in her surmise—was standing within ear-shot of this conversation. And Honora, who knew she was there, could not help feeling that she took a rather redoubtable interest in it. At Mrs. Holt's words she turned.
“Bessie, I've found a new recruit—one that I can answer for, Mrs. Spence, whom I spoke to you about.”
Mrs. Grainger bestowed upon Honora her enigmatic smile.
“Oh,” she declared, “I've heard of Mrs. Spence from other sources, and I've seen her, too.”
Honora grew a fiery red. There was obviously no answer to such a remark, which seemed the quintessence of rudeness. But Mrs. Grainger continued to smile, and to stare at her with the air of trying to solve a riddle.
“I'm coming to see you, if I may,” she said. “I've been intending to since I've been in town, but I'm always so busy that I don't get time to do the things I want to do.”