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 in such wise that its ends protruded through the double-doorways opening on the hall and dining-room so that it would have been necessary to move this piece of furniture had one decided to close the sliding-doors. The room, however, gained some privacy through the deep brown velvet portieres which hung in the doorways.

Tell me about yourself, Lou, the Countess began sympathetically.

There's not much to tell you. I've written you everything. Lou was at a loss for words. Suddenly she brightened and went on, You'd be surprised at the number of people who remember you, who want to see you.

I suppose you're having them to dinner soon.

To dinner!

Well, not all together. I mean a series of dinners.

O, Ella, we don't give dinners here. . . except family dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don't remember that I've ever been asked to dinner. The men would have such a short time to eat before they'd have to go back to business.

The perplexity of the Countess, concerning a subject which she had originally broached merely by way of being pleasant, increased momentarily. To business? she asked. Do they work evenings then?

O, no. You must remember that we dine at noon here.

O, so you do. I had forgotten. The Countess