So that is how Ellen happened to go to the dance, and, to the chagrin of her hostess, she had all the attention she could desire, and did not in the least miss the blandishments which Florence bestowed upon some of her guests, notably Suzanne Mills, who was a flapper of flappers, and as brainless a little somebody as one could meet, but she glittered in shining raiment, and was bestrung with gauds, so she could not help attracting attention. “Her people are awful rich,—that’s a real pearl necklace she’s got on,” Ellen heard Florence remark; and, thinking of Mabel Wickham, who also was “awful rich” but who dressed simply and made no display of jewelry, Ellen smiled. However, the blood rushed to her face when Suzanne asked, “Who is the red-headed girl that your brother Frank is so devoted to?” “Oh, that’s a sort of a little ‘orphant Annie,’ taken up by one of her relatives who lives here. She is poor as poverty, and I’d never have invited her if Frank hadn’t insisted upon it.” “She doesn’t look poor,” returned Suzanne. “That’s a handsome dress she has on, and those look like real rock-crystal beads she wears.” “Probably some rich friend gave them to her; her cousin couldn’t afford either dress or beads, unless Ellen badgered her till she was obliged to give them to her to keep peace. It’s pretty hard on Miss Rindy to have to support a girl who is old enough to make her own living.” Ellen’s face was flaming as the girls moved off. If only she could have escaped from her corner before those two came near enough for her to hear what they said. Eavesdropping? Perhaps it was, but she was hemmed in by a screen of palms, and could not easily have made her way out without crowding others. She was waiting for Frank, who had established her there. Presently he came up, bearing a plate of chicken salad in one hand and one of oysters in the other. “I’ll get you some ice-cream and cake in a minute,” he said. “This is a nice, quiet corner, isn’t it? Just big enough for two. Rather a tight squeeze getting in and out, but room enough when you get here. I’ve had my eye on it from the first. I’ll be right back.” He set down the plates, and Ellen saw him threading his way through the crowd.