“Then you have a new world before you, Miss Thurston,” said the young man, his manner changing.  “Washington is like no other city in the world, I think.  I have been here for four years.  Before that time I had lived in Dublin, in Paris, in St. Petersburg.”

“Then you are not an American!” exclaimed Bab, regarding the young man with interest.

“I am a man without a country, Miss Thurston.”  Bab’s visitor laughed carelessly.  “Or, perhaps, I had better say I am a man of several countries.  My father was an Irishman and a soldier of fortune.  My mother was a Russian.  Therefore, I am a member of the Russian legation in Washington in spite of my half-Irish name.  Have you ever been abroad?”

“Oh, no,” Bab returned, shaking her head.  “For the past two years, since I have known Ruth Stuart, the ‘Automobile Girls’ have traveled about in this country a good deal.  But we are only school girls still.  We have never really made our debut in society, although we mean to forget this while we are in Washington, and to see as much of the world as we can.  I do wish I knew something about politics.  It would make our visit in Washington so much more interesting.”

“It is the most interesting game in the world,” declared Barbara’s companion, dropping for an instant his expression of indifference.  His blue eyes flashed.  Then he said quickly:  “Perhaps you will let me teach you something of the political game at Washington.  I am sure you will be quick to learn and to enjoy it.”

“Thank you,” Bab answered shyly.  “But I am much too stupid ever to understand.”

“I don’t quite believe that.  You know, you will, of course, hear a great deal about politics while you are the guests of the Assistant Secretary of State.  Mr. Hamlin is one of the cleverest men in Washington.  I am sure you will be instructing me in diplomacy by the end of a week.  But good-bye; I must not keep you any longer.  Will you tell Mr. Hamlin that I left the bundle of papers he desired on his study table?  And please tell Harriet that I shall hope to be invited very often to see the ‘Automobile Girls.’”

The young man looked intently at Barbara, as though trying to read her very thoughts while she returned his scrutiny with steady eyes.  Then with a courteous bow, he left the room.

When Barbara found herself alone she returned to the window.

“I do wish the girls would come,” she murmured to herself.  “I am just dying to know what Mollie and Grace think of their first reception in Washington.  Of course, Ruth has visited Harriet before, so the experience is not new to her.  I am sorry I did not go with the girls, in spite of my headache.  I wonder if some one is coming in here again!  I seem to be giving a reception here myself.”

By this time the room was lighted, and Barbara saw a young woman of about twenty-five years of age walk into the drawing-room and drop into a big arm chair with a little tired sigh.