Big Poker Site hazard of new fortunes 67

while she tried to divine Mrs. Mandels position from this statement, "Its certainly the first duty." "If Mrs. March could have had her way, we should have had the drainage of our whole ward put in order," said her husband, "before we ventured to take a furnished apartment for the winter." Mrs. Mandel looked discreetly at Mrs. March for permission to laugh at this, but at the same moment both ladies became preoccupied with a second rustling on the stairs. Two tall, well-dressed young girls came in, and Mrs. Mandel introduced, "Miss Dryfoos, Mrs. March; and Miss Mela Dryfoos, Mr. March," she added, and the girls shook hands in their several ways with the Marches. Miss Dryfoos had keen black eyes, and her hair was intensely black. Her face, but for the slight inward curve of the nose, was regular, and the smallness of her nose and of her mouth did not weaken her face, but gave it a curious effect of fierceness, of challenge. She had a large black fan in her hand, which she waved in talking, with a slow, watchful nervousness. Her sister was blonde, and had a profile like her brothers; but her chin was not so salient, and the weak look of the mouth was not corrected by the spirituality or the fervor of his eyes, though hers were of the same mottled blue. She dropped into the low seat beside Mrs. Mandel, and intertwined her fingers with those of the hand which Mrs. Mandel let her have. She smiled upon the Marches, while Miss Dryfoos watched them intensely, with her eyes first on one and then on the other, as if she did not mean to let any expression of theirs escape her. "My mother will be down in a minute," she said to Mrs. March. "I hope were not disturbing her. It is so good of you to let us come in the evening," Mrs. March replied. "Oh, not at all," said the girl. "We receive in the evening." "When we do receive," Miss Mela put in. "We dont always get the chance to." She began a laugh, which she checked at a smile from Mrs. Mandel, which no one could have seen to be reproving. Miss Dryfoos looked down at her fan, and looked up defiantly at Mrs. March. "I suppose you have hardly got settled. We were afraid we would disturb you when we called." "Oh no! We were very sorry to miss your visit. We are quite settled in our new quarters. Of course, its all very different from Boston." "I hope its more of a sociable place there," Miss Mela broke in again. "I never saw such an unsociable place as New York. Weve been in this house three months, and I dont believe that if we stayed three years any of the neighbors would call." "I fancy proximity doesnt count for much in New York," March suggested. Mrs. Mandel said: "Thats what I tell Miss Mela. But she is a very social nature, and cant reconcile herself to the fact." "No, I cant," the girl pouted. "I think it was twice as much fun in Moffitt. I wish I was there now." "Yes," said March, "I think theres a great deal more enjoyment in those smaller places. Theres not so much going on in the way of public amusements, and so people make more of one another. There are not so many concerts, theatres, operas--" "Oh, theyve got a splendid opera-house in Moffitt. Its just grand," said Miss Mela. "Have you been to the opera here, this winter?" Mrs. March asked of the elder girl. She was glaring with a frown at her sister, and detached her eyes from her with an effort. "What did you say?" she demanded, with an absent bluntness. "Oh yes. Yes! We went once. Father took a box at the Metropolitan." "Then you got a good dose of Wagner, I suppose?" said March. "What?" asked the girl. "I dont think Miss Dryfoos is very fond of Wagners music," Mrs. Mandel said. "I believe you are all great Wagnerites in Boston?" "Im a very bad Bostonian, Mrs. Mandel. I suspect myself of preferring Verdi," March answered. Miss Dryfoos looked down at her fan again, and said, "I like Trovatore the best." "Its an opera I never get tired of," said March, and Mrs. March and Mrs. Mandel exchanged a smile of compassion for his simplicity. He detected it, and added: "But I dare say I shall come down with the Wagner fever in time. Ive been exposed to some malignant cases of

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