“But you cannot refuse a first invitation,” pursued Mrs. Lyman. “Now the Elliots for instance. They have just called upon us, we could not decline. Are you going to Hammersley’s to-morrow, Emma?” “No,” said Emma, “we are not invited. Are you?” “Yes; it’s a small party. We shall go there first and afterwards to Lascelles’.” “I saw you all at the opera on Monday,” remarked Emma. “Yes, we were there the first two acts—we went from there to Shaw’s. By the way, did you call upon the bride yesterday?” “No,” replied Emma. “I have never visited the Halseys.” “But as Hamilton’s friends,” pursued Mrs. Lyman, “I called on his account.” “No,” said Emma carelessly, “I hate bridal receptions and avoid them whenever I possibly can.” Mrs. Lyman had risen while she was speaking, and she said, “Oh don’t go! Why are you in such a hurry?” “I must, my dear,” replied Mrs. Lyman. “The Armstrongs and Ringolds receive to-day, and then I must call at Meredith’s. We have not been there since the party. And Cadwaladers too, Mary,” she said, turning to her daughter, “don’t forget them. We have been owing that visit so long—and the Harrisons, and I don’t know how many,” she continued, as if quite oppressed with the weight of fashionable cares. “I don’t suppose we shall get through with the half of them. Come Mary,” and so bidding Emma and her friends good morning, she withdrew. The door had hardly closed upon her, when Mrs. Fortesque, still wrathy at the manner in which Mrs. Lyman had spoken of Rawleys, and angrier still at finding she was going to Hammersley’s, vented some of her indignation exclaiming— “How that woman does work for society!” “One would think she had been at court to hear her talk of Elliots,” said Emma laughing. “Just so, Emma,” said Mrs. Fortesque, in a tone of bitter satisfaction at the young lady’s laughing satire. “It’s too absurd! And as to saying the Elliots called first, I don’t believe it. They, strangers here, and people of their fortune, are not likely to go about making first calls.” “What’s that?” said Charlotte Appleton, who had been engrossed in conversation with a gentleman on the opposite side of the room. “What’s that about the Elliots making first calls.” “I was saying it was rather remarkable that they should have called first on Mrs. Lyman,” replied Mrs. Fortesque. “They did not,” exclaimed Charlotte. “Of course, as strangers, you know, Mrs. Fortesque, they would not, and I know the Lymans called upon them some time ago.” “Are you sure of that, Charlotte?” asked Mrs. Fortesque, with the triumphant manner of one securing an important fact. “Certainly,” replied Charlotte, “for she asked mamma and myself to call and introduce her, but we were engaged that morning, and she said it was no matter, she would leave her card and be introduced the first time they met.” “I thought so!” said Mrs. Fortesque exultingly, “It’s just like her!” “There’s no reason why she should not have called, Mrs. Fortesque,” said Emma.