"Do you think so?" she replied, caustically.

Mrs. Simms, not all dissatisfied with the effect she had produced,
passed on with a gay air, attended by a young artist who followed
amorously in her train.

Aileen saw from this and other things like it how little she was
really "in." The exclusive set did not take either her or Cowperwood
seriously as yet. She almost hated the comparatively dull Mrs.
Israels, who had been standing beside her at the time, and who had
heard the remark; and yet Mrs. Israels was much better than nothing.
Mrs. Simms had condescended a mild "how'd do" to the latter.

It was in vain that the Addisons, Sledds, Kingslands, Hoecksemas,
and others made their appearance; Aileen was not reassured.
However, after dinner the younger set, influenced by McKibben,
came to dance, and Aileen was at her best in spite of her doubts.
She was gay, bold, attractive. Kent McKibben, a past master in
the mazes and mysteries of the grand march, had the pleasure of
leading her in that airy, fairy procession, followed by Cowperwood,
who gave his arm to Mrs. Simms. Aileen, in white satin with a
touch of silver here and there and necklet, bracelet, ear-rings,
and hair-ornament of diamonds, glittered in almost an exotic way.
She was positively radiant. McKibben, almost smitten, was most
attentive.

"This is such a pleasure," he whispered, intimately. "You are
very beautiful--a dream!"