"You know well enough what you've been saying behind my back, and you
needn't think that people don't come and tell me. I name no names, but
I know! Oh, I know!"

Now, of course, everybody says things behind everybody else's back that
nobody would care to have repeated to anybody. Through Johnetta
Ackerley's memory dashed a hundred caustic comments she had made on
Mrs. Budlong. She blushed and sighed, turned away and closed the door
after her, like the last line of an elegy.

A surge of triumph swept over Mrs. Budlong. Success at last.

Then the door opened and Johnetta reappeared on the sill with a look of
angelic contrition.

"I hardly know what to say," she said. "Of course, I must admit I did
rather forget myself. It was at the last meeting of the Progressive
Euchre Club and everybody was criticizing you for having solid gold
prizes when they were at your house. They said it was vulgar
ostentation. I didn't say anything for the longest time, but finally
when they all said your money had gone to your head, hadn't it, I admit
I did mumble, 'It seems so.' But it is only what everybody else says
all the time, and I assure you I didn't really mean it. Of course
nobody can behave just the same after they are a millionaire as they
did before. But I am awfully fond of you and--and--"

"It was most disloyal," said Mrs. Budlong. "And to think that after
tearing me to pieces behind my back, you could come and call on me."