"
"You will wait until she returns your call?"
"I cannot say. It will depend upon the way things shape themselves
in my mind. If I can do her good, I shall not stand upon etiquette."
As I came in sight of my modest little home a few days afterwards, I
saw the stylish carriage of Mrs. Dewey dash away from my door,
taking a direction opposite to that by which I was approaching.
"How are the mighty fallen!" It was hardly a good spirit by whom
this thought was quickened, for I was conscious of something like a
feeling of triumph. With an effort I repressed the ungenerous state
of mind.
"So your call has been returned," said I, on entering our sitting
room.
"Yes. How did you know?" Constance looked up, smiling, but curious.
"I saw Mrs. Dewey's carriage leave our door as I turned into the
street. Did she come in, or only leave her card?"
"She came in, and sat for half an hour."
"And made herself very agreeable,--was patronizing, and all that?"
"No--nothing of the kind suggested by your words." And Constance
looked at me reproachfully. "She was, on the contrary, quiet,
subdued, and womanly.
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