which was silk or satin, according as you looked at it, but certainly
did not shine much. The coat, or jacket or wrap, which completed the
suit was arresting in design, to say no more of it. Less original were
the muff and stole of darkest sable; but they were beautiful.
Carlisle, it need hardly be said, went downstairs in her hat. "Oh," the
visiting ladies would say, "but you are going out." "Oh, not for half an
hour yet," she would protest. "I'm _so_ glad you came."
About 4.30, J. Forsythe Avery, who had no office hours, was ushered into
the stately Heth drawing-room. The lady callers withdrew promptly, but
not so promptly as to make it too pointed. It was generally believed at
this time that Miss Heth "had an understanding" with Mr. Avery, though
it was quite well known that she, personally, much preferred young
Robert Tellford. The figure, however, at which a famous life insurance
company commanded Robert's undivided services made him a purely academic
interest. With J. Forsythe the case was totally different: from the
environs of his native Mauch Chunk the Avery forbears had dug principal
and interest in enormous quantities.
J. Forsythe remained for twenty minutes, the period named when he had
telephoned. Having failed to secure any extension of time, he went away,
and Carlisle skipped upstairs to look in the mirror, and put on the
concluding touches indicated above. Descending and emerging into the
winter sunset, she sent the waiting car on ahead to the Byrds', and set
out to do the five blocks afoot. Exercise makes pink cheeks.
It was a splendid afternoon, sharp and clear as a silver bell. Carlisle
walked well, especially when one considers the sort of shoes she wore:
she had the good free stride of one who walks for the joy of it and not
because that is the only conceivable way to get somewhere. Nevertheless,
just as she reached the Byrd doorstep, she was overhauled by the
Cooneys, her poor but long-stepping relatives. There were only two of
them this time, Henrietta and Charles, better known, from one end of the
|