So there were a great many glasses turned toward Mae that evening.
Very probably the young women in the next box accepted a share of these
glances as their own, and, in a crowd where the French and Italian
elements predominate, or largely enter, they could not have been far
wrong. Every girl or woman who pretends to any possible charm is quite
sure of her share of admiration from these susceptible beings. The
young ladies of the next box had that indescribable New York air, which
extends from the carefully brushed eyebrows quite to the curves of the
wrist and hand. Praise Parisian modes all you will, but for genuine
style, a New York girl, softened a trifle by commonsense or good taste,
leads the world--certainly if she is abroad. For there she soon finds
it impossible to go to the extremes that American air seems to rush
her into. Three months, or perhaps, if she is observant, three days
in Paris, teach her that the very biggest buttons, or the very largest
paniers, or the very flaringest hats are not for her, or any lady,
and by stepping back to size number two, she does not detract from her
style, while she does add to her lady-likeness.

These two girls, it may be surmised, were no other than Miss Hopkins and
Miss Rae, whom chance or fate or bungling Eric Madden, who bought the
tickets, had seated side by side with the Maddens and Jerrolds. It was
bothersome, when Norman and Eric had played truant at any rate, but
there was no help for it; so after a little Eric introduced them all
round, and the two parties apparently merged into one, or broke up into
four, for tete-a-tetes soon began. It was a little hard that three girls
should have each a devoted servant, and that only one, and that one,
Mae, should be obliged to receive her care from the chaperon; but so it
was.

Nevertheless, Mae bore herself proudly. She was seated next Miss Rae,