"You know it's just like the hat Gabrielle Lightfoot wears in the 'Star of the Harem' when she comes in in the balloon. I got her to let me copy it--exactly." "You did? How did you manage that?" "Why, you see, Jimmy Canter knows her, and he asked Harriet and me to supper to meet her, and I declare she nearly made me die laughing--you know she's a real sweet girl--Jimmy says she----" "Who chaperoned you?" asked Miss Leigh, as she began to put on her gloves. "Chaperon? My dear, that's where the fun came in--we didn't have any chaperon. I pretended that Harriet and the Count were married and called her Countess, and she was so flattered at being given the title that she was pleased to death--though you know, she's really dead in love with Jimmy Canter, and he hardly looks at her. If he's in love with any one--except Mr. James Canter, Jr.--it's with some one else I know." She nodded her head knowingly. "I'm afraid I have to go now," said Miss Leigh, "my father expects me to come for him," she glanced at a jewelled watch. She had stiffened up slightly. "Well, of course, you'll come?" "To what?" "To our ball--that's what it is, you know, though it's for a charity, and we make others pay for it. Why shouldn't they? I haven't decided yet what charity. Harriet wants it to be for a home for cats. You'd know she'd want that now, wouldn't you? She'll be in there herself some day. But I'm not going to let it go for anything she wants. She's claiming now that she got it up, and I'm just going to show her who did. I'm thinking of giving it to that young preacher you met in the country two years ago and got so interested in 't you got Dr. Capon to bring him here as his assistant." "You couldn't give it to a better cause," said Miss Leigh. "I wonder how he is coming on?" "I guess you know all right. But Pa says," pursued Miss McSheen without heeding further the interruption, "we are ruining the poor, and the reason they won't work is that we are always giving them money. You know they're striking on our lines--some of them? I haven't decided yet what to give it to. Oh! you ought to see the Doctor. He's the gayest of the gay. He came to see me the other day. It almost made me die laughing. You know he's dead in love with your Aunt. I used to think it was you; but Pa says I'm always thinking everybody is in love with you--even the Count--but he says--However----" "I'll tell you what!" said Miss Leigh suddenly, "I'll come to the ball if you'll give the proceeds to Mr. Marvel for his poor people." "Done! See there! what did I tell you! I thought you weren't so pious for nothing all on a sudden----" "Milly, you're a goose," said Miss Leigh, picking up her sunshade.