Титан

In Search of Victory

           Shelovedtorecitethebonmotsofheridol,todiscourseuponherastonishingdegreeofculture,tonarratehowpeoplerefusedonoccasiontobelievethatshewasthewifeofAnsonMerrill,eventhoughsheherselfdeclaredit—thoseoldchestnutsofthesocialworldwhichmusthavehadtheirorigininEgyptandChaldea.Mrs.Simmsherselfwasofanondescripttype,notarealpersonage,clever,good-looking,tasteful,asocialclimber.ThetwoSimmschildren(littlegirls)hadbeentaughtallthesocialgracesoftheday—topose,smirk,genuflect,andthelike,totheimmensedelightoftheirelders.Thenurseinchargewasinuniform,thegovernesswasamuchput-uponperson.Mrs.Simmshadahighmanner,eyesforthoseaboveheronly,aserenecontemptforthecommonplaceworldinwhichshehadtodwell.

           DuringthefirstdinneratwhichsheentertainedtheCowperwoodsMrs.SimmsattemptedtodigintoAileen’sPhiladelphiahistory,askingifsheknewtheArthurLeighs,theTrevorDrakes,RobertaWilling,ortheMartynWalkers.Mrs.Simmsdidnotknowthemherself,butshehadheardMrs.Merrillspeakofthem,andthatwasenoughofahandlewherebytoswingthem.Aileen,quickonthedefense,readytoliemanfullyonherownbehalf,assuredherthatshehadknownthem,asindeedshehad—verycasually—andbeforetherumorwhichconnectedherwithCowperwoodhadbeenvoicedabroad.ThispleasedMrs.Simms.

           "ImusttellNellie,"shesaid,referringthusfamiliarlytoMrs.Merrill.

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