"I went in to dinner with the son of one of papa's old Chamberlin
companions, and he was simply charming. So were all the others, and I
never met a man who could shake hands as well as Senator North. I had
a heavenly time."

Mrs. Madison groaned and turned her face to the wall.

"And there wasn't a toothpick, and I didn't hear a twang."

"Kindly allow me to go to sleep."




VI



As soon as Betty awoke the next morning, she turned her mind to the
events of the night before. Unlike most occasions eagerly anticipated,
it had contained no disappointment; she had, indeed, been pleasurably
surprised, for despite her strong common-sense the dark picture of
corruption and objectionable toilet accessories had made its
impression upon her. She foresaw much amusement in witnessing the
unwilling surrender of her mother to even Senator Shattuc, him of
the political beard. As for Senator Burleigh, she would yield to his
magnetism and power of compelling interest in himself, while
pronouncing his manners too abrupt and his personality too "Western."
And if he admired intelligently the old lace which she always wore at
her throat and wrists and on her pretty head, she would confess that