"Oh, it is a fine family. She has done well. I really think that Richard has shown himself sometimes quite hard, but the two are not at all alike. Victor's mother was a French woman, or of French descent. That is where he gets his complexion, I suppose,--and perhaps his morals, for I guess he has been pretty fast. There was an awful scandal about his mother years ago, I've heard. Of course Richard never mentioned it to me, but I know he hates her like poison. I think she went off with another man or something like that--some dreadful thing that couldn't be talked about above your breath. Anyway, she disappeared and never came back--left her child--and all that. The story goes that she wanted to come back after a while, but old Mr. De Jarnette never forgave her. I think they really are very unforgiving--Richard has proved _himself_ so. Yes, the boys were raised by the father and a negro nurse. They have a beautiful estate out here in Maryland--Elmhurst. Richard keeps it up and stays out there in the summer, or at least he did when I had an interest in him, which was ages ago." "How old is Victor De Jarnette?" "Twenty-one. He just came into his money last winter. He is two years older than Margaret." Mrs. Pennybacker shook her head. "Too young entirely." "Richard is ten years older than Victor. If she could have got him now,--but--" Mrs. Van Dorn tossed her pretty head--"I don't believe anybody will ever capture Richard De Jarnette, unless--" The sentence was unfinished, but she looked demurely at the lavender reflection in the mirror opposite. It is hard for a woman to forget a man who has once been at her feet. After a long silence Mrs. Pennybacker, who had evidently been pondering something, said abruptly, "Maria, where did you say Margaret's new home was? I think I shall go to see her this afternoon." "Why, Aunt Mary, you can't. She isn't at home until September." "But I am going away tomorrow. I can't hang around here till September. And I am an old, old friend of her mother's. Don't you think she would excuse the informality under the circumstances?" "Certainly not. You oughtn't to think of going." "Very well," said Mrs. Pennybacker, "perhaps you are right. What did you say was her number? I may want to write to her some time." She acquiesced in the proposed restriction of her movements without further remonstrance and an hour later sallied forth, address in hand, to find Margaret De Jarnette. "That's always the best way to conduct a discussion with Maria," she said to herself. "It saves time and temper." * * * * *