was a kind of reaction which frequently followed moments of intense
activity and, realizing its significance, she yielded to it sulkily,
her gaze on the face of the clock which was ticking off purposeless
minutes with maddening precision. She glanced over her shoulder in
relief as her maid appeared in the doorway.

"Will Mademoiselle see the Countess Tcherny and Mees Ashhurst?" Titine
was a great believer in social distinctions.

"Olga! Yes, I was expecting her. Tell them to come right up."

The new arrivals entered the room gaily with the breezy assertiveness
of persons who were assured of their welcome and very much at home.
Hilda Ashhurst was tall, blonde, aquiline and noisy; the Countess,
dainty, dark-eyed and _svelte_, with the flexible voice which spoke of
familiarity with many tongues and rebuked the nasal greeting of her
more florid companion. Hermia met them with a sigh. Only yesterday
Mrs. Westfield had protested again about Hermia's growing intimacy
with the Countess, who had quite innocently taken unto herself all of
the fashionable vices of polite Europe.

Hilda Ashhurst watched Hermia's expression a moment and then laughed.

"Been catching it--haven't you? Poor Hermia! It's dreadful to be the
one chick in a family of ugly ducklings--"

"Or the ugly duckling in a family of virtuous chicks--"

"Not ugly, _chŽrie_," laughed the Countess. "One is never ugly
with a million francs a year. Such a fortune would beautify a satyr.