"When wit and beauty get into a corner together," was Rangely's salutation, "there is sure to be mischief brewing." "It isn't at all kind," Miss Mott retorted, "for you to emphasize the fact that Mr. Fenton has all the wit and I not any." "It is as kind," Fenton said, "as his touching upon the plainness of my personal appearance." "Your mutual modesty in appropriating wit and beauty," Rangely returned, "goes well toward balancing the account." "One has to be modest when you appear, Mr. Rangely," Miss Mott declared, saucily, "simply to keep up the average." "Come," Fenton said, "this will serve as an excellent beginning for a quarrel. I will leave you to carry it on by yourselves. I have got too old for that sort of amusement." Rangely looked after the artist as the latter took himself off to join Mrs. Staggchase, who was holding court not far away. "You may follow if you want to," Ethel said, intercepting the glance. Rangely laughed, a trifle uneasily. "I don't want to," he replied, "if you will be good natured." "Good natured? I like that! I am always good natured. You had better go than to stay and abuse me. But then, as you have been at Mrs. Staggchase's all the afternoon, you ought to be pretty well talked out." The young man turned toward her with an air of mingled surprise and impatience. "Who said I had been there?" he demanded. "It was in the evening papers," she returned, teasingly. "All your movements are chronicled now you have become a great man." "Humph! I am glad you were interested in my whereabouts." "But I wasn't in the least." "Are you sparring as usual, Miss Mott?" asked Mr. Stewart Hubbard, joining them. "Good evening, Mr. Rangely." "Oh, Mr. Hubbard," Miss Mott said, ignoring the question, "I want to know who is to make the statue of _America_. It is going to stand opposite our house, so that it will be the first thing I shall see when I look out of the window in the morning, and naturally I am interested." "Mr. Herman is making a study, and Mr. Irons has been put up to asking this new woman for a model. What is her name? The one whose _Galatea_ made a stir last year." "Mrs. Greyson," Rangely answered. "I used to know her before she went to Rome." "Is she clever?" demanded Miss Mott, with a sort of girlish imperiousness which became her very well. "I can't have a statue put up unless it is very good indeed." "She might take Miss Mott as a model," Mr. Hubbard suggested, smiling. "For America? Oh, I am too little, and altogether too civilized. I'd do better for a model of Monaco, thank you." "There is always a good deal of chance about you," Rangely said in her ear, as Mr. Staggchase spoke to Mr. Hubbard and drew his attention away.