"I came because I wanted to see what it would be like, but I had no conception it would be so bad. Did you ever see such a set as she has collected?" "It does seem mixed." "Unmixed, I should call it. I have been waiting for half an hour to see a soul of my acquaintance. Sit down here, and let us have a nice talk." A nice talk with Mrs. Thorndike Freeman foreboded a dead cut from her the next time you met her; for she never took anyone up without as violently putting them down again--and then there was no one now to see and envy. However, Miss Snow dared not refuse, and seating herself with a conciliatory, frightened air, somewhat like a little dog in the cage of a lioness, asked in timid tones: "Why do you stay? Is not your carriage here?" "I want to get something to eat first," said Mrs. Freeman, "for I suppose their spread is something indescribable." "Oh, quite! The whole middle of the table is a mass of American Beauty roses as large as--as cabbages, and around that a bank of mignonette like--like small cauliflowers, and all over beneath it is covered with hothouse maiden-hair ferns, and----" "And what's the grub?" "I--did not eat much; I only wanted to see it; but I had a delicious little _pate_--chicken done in cream, somehow; and I saw aspic jelly with something in it handed round; and the ices--they are all in floral devices, water lilies floating on spun sugar, and roses in gold baskets, and cherries tied in bunches with ribbons, and grapes lying on tinted Bohemian glass leaves--and------" "It sounds appetising. I'll wait till I see a man that doesn't know me, and he shall get me some. I don't want it known that I ever entered their doors." "Shall I not go back to the dining-room and send a waiter to you?" "No, indeed--he would be sure to know me, and I should get put on the list." "The stationers who sent out the invitations will do that." "Oh, well--I can only say I never came. But the waiter would swear to me, and very likely describe my dress. No, I shall wait a little longer. Stay here and keep me company." "Oh, it will be delightful!" quavered Miss Snow, though worrying at the prospect of getting away late on foot, and ill able to afford cab-hire. "You've heard of the engagement, I suppose?" "Which of them?" asked Miss Snow, skilfully hedging. "Why, the only one, so far as I know. Why, haven't you heard? Ralph Underwood and Winnie Parke." "Oh, yes! has that come out? I have been away from home for a few days, and had not heard. Very pleasant, I'm sure." "Very--for her. It was her sister who did it, Mrs. Al Smith. She's a very clever young woman; fished for Al herself in the most barefaced way, and now she's caught Ralph for her sister; and she's not nearly so good-looking, either, Winnie Parke, though I should say she had a better temper than Margaret. You know Margaret Smith of course?"