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 tailor-made gown of the newest and most Parisian fashion.

"It's a sweet frock," Philippa commented, dreamily, "and your toque is very smart; that forward tilt suits you. The hats this year are simply invented to annoy me. Everything over the eyes, and my style is the off-the-face flaring thing. Have you seen many people since you arrived—our people, I mean?"

Her friend shook her head slowly. "No, not many. Bob and Howard Dame met me at the wharf, and last night Morton Conway came up. Dear old thing! I was jolly glad to see him."

She was staring at the Dutch silver tea-caddy, and did not see the quick flush that mounted to the white temples of her hostess.

"A charming fellow, and one to whom I have become greatly attached," the lady remarked in the somewhat stilted language she affected when she remembered to do so.

Victoria's frank eyes sought her face at once with eagerness.

"Really? I thought you were mere acquaintances. I forget how long I have been away, 71