“Why? Why did you look for something, or rather, for everything recherché and elegant in this crowd? Because you see in the newspaper reports of such gatherings, such phrases as ‘the beautiful Miss A——?’—by the way, there she is—the young lady with the red hair, milk-white complexion and little eyes; or ‘the elegant Mrs. B——?’ ‘the graceful Mrs. C——?’ etc., etc., etc., with revised and improved accounts of their costume, appearance, manners, etc.? Miss Kavanagh, when you have stayed in the city longer, you will know that when a newspaper reporter and letter writer speaks of that dowdy, but wealthy little woman, in the flimsy, scarlet dress, as ‘the beautiful, elegant, and accomplished Mrs. G——,’ and tells of ‘the immense (imaginary) sensation’ she made—_he_, the reporter, is morally certain of an invitation to her private parties.” Kate did not like his sarcastic tone, but before she could make any sort of reply, her attention was called to a rising excitement in the room. Every gentleman, from the fidgety little Major General, down to the grave and dignified low comedian; and every lady, from the ex-Governor’s fussy widow, to the stately and self-possessed stock actress, were on the _qui vive_. Kate, while listening and watching for the cause of the excitement, caught a few phrases that helped to enlighten her—they were of this sort:—“A wonder! a perfect wonder! A miracle of dark beauty.” “The wealthiest woman in the state, but that is nothing to her marvelous beauty.” “Did you see her as ‘_Egypt_,’ at the fancy ball?” “Her portrait, in oil, by ——, stands in Stationers’ Hall. It has attracted crowds.” “No—I have seen the engraving from it in ‘Beauty’s Annual’ for this year. But I have also seen it on the tops of cigar boxes—too bad!” “Hush! here she comes!” Catherine turned her eyes in the direction towards which all others were gazing. It was Georgia—dark, bright, and more beautiful and bewitching than ever. Her dress was of lustrous black _crape-de-lise_, sprinkled over with gold spangles, that gleamed in and out through the dark, transparent drapery, suggesting clear, starlight night. A crowd entered with the star-bright Circe—a crowd attended her during all her progress through the room.