girls--have a ripping time."

"At least they have not picked up your vocabulary. I seldom see the young
people. And I have never been to the Club. I am told the women drink and
smoke quite openly on the verandah."

"You may bet your sweet life they do. They are honest, and quite as sure of
their position as you are. But tell me about father. How did mother come to
marry him? If he was such a naughty person I should think she would have
exercised the sound Ballinger instincts and thrown him down."

"Mother met him in Washington. Grandfather Ballinger was senator at the
time--"

"From Virginia or California?"

"It is shocking that you do not know more of the family history. From
California, of course. He had great gifts and political aspirations,
and realized that there would be more opportunity in the new state--
particularly in such a famous one--than in his own where all the men
in public life seemed to have taken root--I remember his using that
expression. So, he came here with his bride, the beauty of Richmond--"

"Oh, Lord, I know all about her. Remember the flavor in my mother's milk--"

"Well, you'd look like her if you had brown eyes and a white skin, and if
your mouth were smaller. And until you learn to stand up straight you'll
never have anything like her elegance of carriage. However....Of course
they had plenty of money--for those days. They had come to Virginia in the
days of Queen Elizabeth and received a large grant of land--"