“Yes, and he is quite gone on Brandon, I assure you. He intends to do a great deal of good in the world. I think he spends half his time in New York studying, he calls it, our charitable institutions. Mamma reproaches me that I don't take more interest in philanthropy. That is her worldly side. Everybody has a worldly side. I'm as worldly as I can be”--this with a look of innocence that denied the self-accusation--“but I haven't any call to marry into Exeter Hall and that sort of thing. That is what she means--dear mamma. Are you High-Church or evangelical?” she asked, after a moment, turning to Margaret? Margaret explained that she was neither. “Well, I am High-Church, and Mr. Lyon is evangelical-Church evangelical. There couldn't be any happiness, you know, without harmony in religious belief.” “I should think not,” said Margaret, now quite recovering herself. “It must be a matter of great anxiety to you here.” Carmen was quick to note the change of tone, and her face beamed with merriment as she rose. “What nonsense I've been talking! I did not intend to go into such deep things. You must not mind what I said about Mr.--(a little pause to read Margaret's face)--Mr. Lyon. We esteem him as much as you do. How charming you are looking this morning! I wish I had your secret of not letting this life tell on one.” And she was gone in a shower of compliments and smiles and caressing ways. She had found out what she came to find out. Mr. Henderson needs watching, she said to herself. The interview, as Margaret thought it over, was amusing, but it did not raise her spirits. Was everybody worldly and shallow? Was this the sort of woman whom Mr. Henderson fancied? Was Mr. Henderson the sort of man to whom such a woman would be attracted? IX It was a dinner party in one of the up-town houses--palaces--that begin to repeat in size, spaciousness of apartments, and decoration the splendor of the Medicean merchant princes. It is the penalty that we pay for the freedom of republican opportunity that some must be very rich. This is the logical outcome of the open chance for everybody to be rich--and it is the surest way to distinction. In a free country the course must be run, and it is by the accumulation of great wealth that one can get beyond anxiety, and be at liberty to indulge in republican simplicity.