V


Mrs. Dwight had repeated this conversation to Gora shortly before her
death, and the girl in her reminiscent mood recalled it as she stared with
somber eyes and ironic lips at the havoc the fire was playing with those
lofty mansions which had stood to her all these intervening years as
symbols of the unpardonable injustice of class.

She recalled another of the few occasions when Mrs. Dwight, who believed
in acceptance and contentment, had been persuaded to discuss the
idiosyncrasies of her adopted city.

"It isn't that money is the standard here as it is in New York. Of course
there is a very wealthy set these late years and they set a pace that makes
it difficult for the older families, like the Groomes for instance--I met
Mrs. Groome once at a summer resort where I was housekeeper that year, and
I thought her very typical and interesting. She was so kind to me without
seeing me at all....But those fine old families, who are all of good old
Eastern or Southern stock--if they manage to keep in society are still the
most influential element in it....Family....Having lived in California long
enough to be one of that old set....To be, without question, one of them.
That is all that matters. I've come in contact with a good many of them
first and last in my poor efforts to help your father, and I believe the
San Franciscans to be the most loyal and disinterested people in the
world-to one another.

"But if you come in from the outside you must bring money, or tremendous