_A._ It was awfully good fun to see how she tried to pretend she didn't care; and then, when she couldn't stand it another minute, she'd catch up the very first thing she could lay her hands on, and throw it. _F._ (_descending the steps_) I would if I'd been she. Could she wear ear-rings? _A._ Oh, not for the longest time,--as much as a year, any way. When we wanted to be especially pleasant, we told her that frozen ears always came off after a time. _F._ How horrid! _A._ But it was such fun! _F._ Good-bye. Be sure and come to-morrow. _A._ Yes. _F._ And come early. _A._ Yes; I'll come right after luncheon. _F._ Don't you think your gown ought to be made just like my black one? _A._ Yes; that would be more effective. _F._ And then we can wear our hair just alike. _A._ It's a pity you couldn't have some black flowers. _F._ Yes. I don't see why the florists don't get up some. Phew! It's as cold as Greenland. Do go in. You'll get your death cold. _A._ Good-bye. Don't tell what I told you. _F._ No; not to a soul. How did Ethel Mott find out about the letters? _A._ She wouldn't tell. _F._ Do you suppose she really knew, or only guessed? _A._ She said she really and truly knew. _F._ Isn't it amazing? _A._ It is _per_-fectly incomprehensible. E. Well, good-bye. I hope you'll have good luck at the Whist Club to-night. _A._ Oh, do come back till I tell you what Mr. Fremont said about the Whist Club. [_Fanny returns to the foot of the steps, and Alice goes half way down to meet her._] _A._ He said he wasn't going to the Whist Club any more, and I asked him why not, and he said he was tired of taking girls down to feed, when they'd been talking so all the evening that he couldn't play. _F._ Why, I never heard anything so insulting! _A._ I told Mr. Van Bruch, and he said the trouble was that Mr. Fremont wanted all the time to feed himself. _F._ Good. Do you know Colonel Graham says that he went to the Vaughns' to play whist, and they held a conversazione instead. Wasn't that clever? _A._ Yes; awfully. _F._ Good-bye. I'll tell Jane to lay out my black dress, so it will be all ready when you come. _A._ I'll try and get time to go down town in the morning, to see what I can get to make my gown of. It's an awful shame you had to hurry away so; I had lots of things to say. _F._ Well, I really had to go, you know. You can't keep a dinner party waiting, of course. _A._ Oh, of course not. Good-bye. I'm awfully glad you came. _F._ Good-bye. I've had a lovely time. [_She at last really goes, and Alice, after lingering a second to regret the things she has not said, retires and closes the door of the now pretty well aired house._] Tale the Sixth. BARUM WEST'S EXTRAVAGANZA. BARUM WEST'S EXTRAVAGANZA.