That meant nothing to me. The name is not an uncommon one, and I have taken in my aunts often enough to get accustomed to the occurrence, even in the family. So, without a second thought of the matter, I passed through the doorway and discharged my devoirs with Mrs. Baxter. “I was on the point of suicide, thinking you had failed me,” she said. “As it is, Mr. and Mrs. Dana have just sent me word that they can’t come because Milly has croup.” “My note said half after seven,” I stated boldly. When one is very late it is always best to put one’s hostess in the wrong, and a mistake more or less to Mrs. Baxter was immaterial. “Oh, never!” she declared, so guiltily that I was really sorry for her. “Well, we can’t discuss it now. We were just going in without you, and we’ll go on, leaving you to find your partner by the process of elimination. I haven’t left you Hobson’s choice, however.” I glanced round, and as the couples had gravitated together, I easily picked out the only single figure left, and went towards it. She was turned from me, standing by Ferdie Gallaudet and his partner, who had not yet moved. “That back is too young and pretty for Aunt Ellen or Madge,” was my first thought. My second was a spoken one, and merely consisted of the trite, “I am to have the pleasure, Miss Cortelyou.” She was saying something to the girl, and went on saying it, with her head over her shoulder, even as she rested her hand on my arm and let me lead her away. And just as I was going to look at her, I caught sight of Ferdie’s face, and fell to wondering what could ail him that he looked so queer. We had been close to the door, and before she had finished her remark, or I had ceased from wondering, we were through it and in the half-gloom of the hall. “I beg your pardon,” said she, turning to me, and speaking very sweetly. “It was a message, and I had only just begun when you came.” “What a nuisance messages are!” was my remark. “What a nice voice you have!” was my thought. Then we entered the dining-room, and I glanced at my partner. It was Kate Cortelyou!