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Quite herself again, she began asking questions aboutquestions, while in my cheeks the aard colour came and went But it would never have occurred to h when at last she left h the rooms, I drew a breath of relief, like one who has passed with credit a stiff exaain, judging through her glass the table and its dainty decorations

"Those flowers are rather high," she declared, and calling upon Milly for help, she began rearranging the roses, and laying the twigs of holly upon the cloth in bolder patterns She seee, to adopt me with the house, to accept and audit and vouch for us

Then people began coether, and I had to take my place beside Mrs Baker and Aunt Marcia in the reception roo about the next hour; it's a blur But I wouldn't have missed a minute I had never before seen a reception, except at the University where so upon people as they entered and leading theainst the wall But now I had to stand up myself and meet people And oh, that was different!

At first two or three woht, and start to say: "How d' you--" or "I'm so--"

And Aunt would make some excited, half-coherent remark and look at me, anxiously but proudly, and say my name

But they never heard her! As they really saw ain And as the awe and wonder grew in their faces--as there caasp, that told how their reserve was for once overthrown, then, to the utmost, I tasted the sweet of power and felt the thrill of ecstasy

Red spots burned in Aunt's cheeks; she talked fast in her coot awry Aunt Marcia was as cal were happening And really there was little to disturb one's composure New Yorkers aren't like our whole-souled, emotional Western folks Not one of these women but would have suffered torture rather than betray her surprise beyond that first irrepressible gasp of amazement After that one victory of human nature, they would et away to discussroom