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           "Shehadforgottenherrelatives,whoweredriftingoutintothehallunderEllenOlenska’sguidance.OldMrs.MingotthadalwaysprofessedagreatadmirationforJuliusBeaufort,andtherewasakindofkinshipintheircooldomineeringwayandtheirshort-cutsthroughtheconventions.NowshewaseagerlycurioustoknowwhathaddecidedtheBeaufortstoinvite(forthefirsttime)Mrs.LemuelStruthers,thewidowofStruthers’sShoe-polish,whohadreturnedthepreviousyearfromalonginitiatorysojourninEuropetolaysiegetothetightlittlecitadelofNewYork."OfcourseifyouandReginainviteherthethingissettled.Well,weneednewbloodandnewmoney—andIhearshe’sstillverygood-looking,"thecarnivorousoldladydeclared.Inthehall,whileMrs.WellandandMaydrewontheirfurs,ArchersawthattheCountessOlenskawaslookingathimwithafaintlyquestioningsmile."Ofcourseyouknowalready—aboutMayandme,"hesaid,answeringherlookwithashylaugh."ShescoldedmefornotgivingyouthenewslastnightattheOpera:Ihadherorderstotellyouthatwewereengaged—butIcouldn’t,inthatcrowd."ThesmilepassedfromCountessOlenska’seyestoherlips:shelookedyounger,moreliketheboldbrownEllenMingottofhisboyhood."OfcourseIknow;yes.AndI’msoglad.Butonedoesn’ttellsuchthingsfirstinacrowd."Theladieswereonthethresholdandsheheldoutherhand."Good-bye;comeandseemesomeday,"shesaid,stilllookingatArcher.Inthecarriage,onthewaydownFifthAvenue,theytalkedpointedlyofMrs