"Poor things, in bondage to their house!" said Norris, and they all

looked solemnly at the multitude of lights shining through the trees.

"There are ever so many disadvantages about being among the few very

rich people in a western town, where most of your friends aren't

opulent," Madeline went on. "When Mrs. Lenox makes a call, she has to

wait while the woman changes her dress. And nobody says to her, 'Oh, do

stay to lunch,' when they've nothing but oysters or beefsteak, but they

wait till they get in an extra chef and then send her a formal

invitation. I believe ours is one of the half-dozen houses where people

don't pretend to be something quite different from what they are when

Mrs. Lenox appears. And yet she's the most simple-minded and genuine

person, and would rather have beefsteak and friendship than paté de

fois gras and good gowns any day."

"Poor things!" said Dick again.

"I think they are out on the terrace now. Would you like to go over and

see them?" Madeline asked.

"No, thank you," said Dick politely. "We won't make their life any more

complicated. Besides, I prefer the society of you and the stars to that

of the miserable too-rich. And they are not alone."

"Of course not. They never are. But Mrs. Lenox said yesterday that late

this fall, when every one else has gone into winter quarters, she is

going to ask you and me and perhaps one or two others to visit her; and

we'll have a serene and lovely time."

"Do you think that there is any hope that they will have lost part of

their money by that time?" asked Dick.

"Father says Mr. Windsor has forgotten how to lose money, and of course

Mr. Windsor and Mr. Lenox are all one."

"I must see to it that I don't marry a millionaire's daughter," said

Dick.




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