There was a tone of gentle decision in her voice and a light in her eye which were not lost upon the bystanders. She gave Bertha a bow and smile, and sat down. The most fastidious woman in Washington--the woman who drew her lines so delicately that she had even been called almost too rigorous; the woman whose well-known good taste and good feeling had given her a power mere social position was powerless to bestow--had taken the subject of the hour's scandal under her protection, and plainly believed nothing to her discredit. In five minutes the whole room was aware of it. She had greeted Mrs. Amory cordially, she had openly checkmated an antagonist, she had sent her own daughter to fill the place left vacant in the dance. "She would not have done that if she had not had the best of reasons," it was said. "And Senator Blundel would scarcely be here if the story had been true." "He has told several of his friends that he is here to prove that it is _not_ true!" "He denied it again and again yesterday." "It was denied in one of the morning papers, and they say he kept it out of the rest because he was determined she should not be more publicly discussed." "She is not one of the women who have been in the habit of giving rise to discussion." "She is a pretty, feminine-looking little creature." "Poor girl! It must have been bitter enough for her." "Rather fine of old Blundel to stand by her in this way." "He would not do it if there was not something rather fine in her. He is not a ladies' man, old Sam Blundel. Look at him! How he looms up behind his bouquet!" The tide of public opinion had taken a turn. Before the dance had ended two or three practical matrons, who were intimately known to Colonel Tredennis' friendly supporter, had made their way to her and asked her opinion and intentions frankly, and had received information calculated to set every doubt at rest. "It is scarcely necessary for me to speak of my opinion of the matter," the lady said, "when we have the evidence of Senator Blundel's presence here with Mrs. Amory to-night. I should feel myself unpardonably in the wrong if I did not take the most open measures in the defence of the daughter of my old friend, who has been treated most unjustly. And I cannot help hoping that she will have other defenders than myself."