"Only that I have found a way out of my grand difficulty," responded their mother, tossing Mr. Ingram's note and the tickets for the bazaar into Catherine's lap. "Are you so delighted to go to this country bazaar, mother?" asked the eldest daughter. "Delighted! No, it will be a bore." "Then why did you say Eureka! and look so pleased?" "Because on that day I shall leave cards on the Northbury folk--not one of them will be at home." "Shabby," muttered Catherine. Her dark cheek flushed, she turned away. Mabel put out her little foot and pressed it against her sister's. The pressure signified warning. "Then you are not going to the bazaar, mother?" she questioned. "I don't know. I may drop in for a moment or two, quite at the close. It would not do to offend Mr. Ingram." "No," replied Mabel. "He is a dear, _gentlemanly_ old man." "Don't use that expression, my love. It is my object in life that _all_ your acquaintances in the world of men should be gentlemen. It is unnecessary therefore to specify any one by a term which must apply to all." Mrs. Bertram then asked Mabel to reply to Mr. Ingram's note. The reply was a warm acceptance, and Mr. Ingram cheered those of his parishioners who pined for the acquaintance of the great lady, with the information that they would certainly meet her at the bazaar. Accordingly when the fateful day arrived the town was empty, and the Fisherman's Hall (Northbury was a seaport), in which the bazaar was held was packed to overflowing. Accordingly Mrs. Bertram in a neat little brougham, which she had hired for the occasion, dropped her cards from house to house in peace; accordingly, too, she caught the maids-of-all-work in their undress toilets, and the humble homes looking their least pretentious. The bazaar was nearly at an end, when at last, accompanied by her two plainly-dressed, but dainty looking girls, she appeared on the scene. The Northbury folk had all been watching for her. Those who had been fortunate enough to enter the sacred precincts of the Manor watched with interest, mingled with approval. (Her icy style was quite _comme-il-faut_, they said.) Those who had been met by the frightened handmaid's "not at home" watched with interest, mixed with disapproval, but all, all waited for Mrs. Bertram with interest.