CHAPTER VIII. THE “COMING OUT”

eopleathomenottoboreyouwithsuchlongletters,”saidshe“and,aboveall,dobidthemwriteonpropernote-paper,andnotonthosegreatvulgarsheets.Youshouldseethecharminglittlelady-likenotesmammawritestoherfriends.” “Thegoodpeopleathome,”repliedI,“knowverywellthatthelongertheirlettersare,thebetterIlikethem.Ishouldbeverysorrytoreceiveacharminglittlelady-likenotefromanyofthemandIthoughtyouweretoomuchofaladyyourself,MissMurray,totalkaboutthe‘vulgarity’ofwritingonalargesheetofpaper.” “Well,Ionlysaidittoteaseyou.ButnowIwanttotalkabouttheballandtotellyouthatyoupositivelymustputoffyourholidaystillitisover.” “Whyso?—Ishallnotbepresentattheball.” “No,butyouwillseetheroomsdeckedoutbeforeitbegins,andhearthemusic,and,aboveall,seemeinmysplendidnewdress.Ishallbesocharming,you’llbereadytoworshipme—youreallymuststay.” “IshouldliketoseeyouverymuchbutIshallhavemanyopportunitiesofseeingyouequallycharming,ontheoccasionofsomeofthenumberlessballsandpartiesthataretobe,andIcannotdisappointmyfriendsb