Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/102

 gayly dressed people. Every available seat was occupied, and the crowd of black coats in the doorways was as dense as it is at a Boston Papanti party. The corresponding number of pretty, fresh, unattended young girls on the benches was not, however, to be found.

The hum of the voices was very loud, almost deafening to a silent person when the sound was not drowned by the music. At the right-hand upper corner of the room the talk seemed to be the loudest. Here sat a group of people conversing busily and earnestly. This little knot of eighteen or twenty persons included those whom Gladys had yclept the "Boston gang." The central figure was that of a tall handsome lady, with a loud voice and brusque manner.

"I call it very shabby of Mrs. Fallow-Deer to leave me out of the hunt dinner; but it's a comfort to know that none of the rest of you are goin'," said the handsome brusque lady.