Mabel glared; this was sheer impertinence; her queenship of this circle was not being treated with proper respect--How vulgar of Katherine, she thought! Mabel's refinement was almost of the degree of the Boston lady who insisted upon the piano's "limbs" being put into pantaloons with frills. She would hardly have spoken of a butcher! She felt particularly annoyed now also, because the clerk episode was a fact which she thought was quite unknown--the solicitorship at Bindon's Green having gloriously advanced the family fortunes. Poor Matilda was quite upset and reproached Katherine when she succeeded in getting her into a corner alone. "Whatever did you speak to Mabel like that for, Kitten?--And I am sure we need not tell everyone about Grandpa--since he did not live here." "Her nonsense makes me feel quite sick, Tild--she is always pretending some ridiculous knowledge and acquaintanceship with the aristocracy. She gets all the names wrong, and gives herself away all the time; it does her good to be found out once in a way." Matilda could bear this side of the affair, but resented the allusion to the butcher with undiminished fervour. "Oh! what awful snobs you all are!" Katherine exclaimed, exasperated out of her amused tolerance at last. "I am not the least ashamed of him: I am proud, on the contrary. He was honest and made money. Why are you and Mabel and all your friends such absurd shams, Tild!--There is nothing disgraceful in being lower middle class; it is honourable and worthy. Why on earth pretend to belong to another, when anyone who knows can see it is untrue--or if you hate your real station, then do as I am doing, educate yourself out of it." "Educate myself out of it!" Matilda was incensed. "Why, I'm sure we are all as fairly educated as any ladies need be." This point of view naturally ended the argument for Katherine; she could only smile again. "All right--it is your birthday, dear old Tild, so I won't quarrel with you! By the way, where is Bob Hartley? I don't see him here to-night." The fiancé of Gladys was prevented from coming by a severe cold, she was informed. And so the evening passed with the Bunny Hug and games, and the gramophone shouted forth its nigger songs, in which they all joined. "Hasn't it been too lovely, Kitten," Matilda said affectionately--her whilom indignation fled as they walked up the narrow stairs. "I've never had such a perfect birthday party, and I am sure you could not have had a more refined, enjoyable evening, not in any home." Katherine kissed her as she turned into her room. "You dear old Tild," she said, and then presently Gladys came in. Katherine was seated in a shrunk dressing-gown which she had left behind, and Em'ly had lighted a fire in the attic grate. The two girls looked at one another, and then Gladys was asked to sit down.