"My land!" she exclaimed, as she entered the room, "if this isn't grand! I wouldn't of missed it for a farm! You see, I waited out on the corner, till it was just one o'clock. I know enough to get to a party just on the minute. My bringin' up was good, if I have fell off a little since. But my folks was always awful particular people,--wouldn't even take their pie in their hands. My husband, now, he was different. He wasn't a fool, nor he wasn't much else. But I only had him a year, and then he up and got killed in a rolling mill. Nice man, John, but not very forth-putting. So I've shifted for myself ever since. Not that I've done so awful well. I'm slow, I am. I never was one o' those to sew with a hot needle and a scorching thread, but I do my stent right along. But, my! how I do rattle on! You might think I don't often go in good society. Well, I don't! So I must make the most of this chance." Mrs. Greene's chatter had been broken in upon by introductions and greetings, but that bothered her not at all. She nodded her head affably at the different ones, but kept right on talking. So Mona was fairly obliged to interrupt her. "Now, let us go out to luncheon," she said, after the maid had announced it twice. "Glad to," said Mrs. Greene. "Oh, my land! what a pretty sight!" She stood stock still in the doorway, and had to be urged forward, in order that the others might follow. "Well, I didn't know a table _could_ look so handsome!" she went on. "My land! I s'pose it's been thirty years since I've went to a real party feast, and then, I can tell you, it wasn't much like this!" Probably not, for Mona's table, with the coloured electric lights blazing from the pretty Christmas tree, the soft radiance of the room, the fragrance of flowers, the exquisite table appointments, and the pretty, kindly hostesses, was a scene well worthy of praise. Anna Gorman trembled a little as she took her seat, and sat, wide-eyed, looking almost as if in a trance of delight. Celeste Arleson was less embarrassed, as her profession took her into fine mansions and in presence of fashionable people every day. Jenny Bisbee looked rapturous. "Oh," she said, "Oh! I am _so_ happy!" The guests all looked a trifle awestruck when the first course appeared, of grapefruit, served in tall, slender ice-glasses, each with a red ribbon tied round its stem, and a sprig of holly in the bow. "Well, did you ever!" exclaimed Mrs. Greene. "And is this the way they do things now? Well, well! It does look 'most too good to eat, but I'm ready to tackle it." Anna Gorman looked a little pained, as if this homely enthusiasm jarred upon her sense of fitness. But Mona said hospitably, "Yes, indeed, Mrs. Greene,--it's here to be eaten." "Now, I'm free to confess, I don't know what spoon to take," Mrs. Greene acknowledged, looking blankly at the row of flat silver before her.