But V. Vivian, the doctor, was not one to forget his mistakes in thanksgiving, merely because the consequences had been lifted from his shoulders.  If he had failed once to provide for his little friend, there should never be any trouble on that score again.  So he made it all sure and definite now, by the legal-sounding paper he drew up; and Henry Bloom, the undertaker on the next block, who was also a notary public, came in and certified the signature.  And he too declined his fee for his trouble, to the wealthy young testator’s perceptible annoyance....

That was on September 12th.  And next day it was that the morning “Post” informed all readers that Mrs. B. Thornton Heth and Miss Heth, having just returned from a summer’s travel in Europe, had arrived in the city, and were again at their town-house, No. 903 Washington Street.

     XXIII

     One Summer in Europe, which she never speaks of now; Home
     again, with what a difference; Novel Questionings, as to what
     is a Friend, etc.

It was life’s waggish way that the project conceived in the obscure dreams of an out-at-elbows young man, and born a foundling upon his money, should have been adopted at sight as the spoiled darling of fashion’s ultra-fashionable.  Undoubtedly, astute Mr. Dayne had had somewhat to do with this, he who so well understood the connection between social prestige and the obtainment of endowment funds.  But whatever the underlying causes and processes, it was plain that the Dabney House Settlement rode the crest of the “exclusive” wave this autumn.  And the fact was grasped by Mrs. B. Thornton Heth within twenty-four hours of her home-coming, so admirably was it fitted to her need.

Mrs. Heth had had time enough through the summer, heaven knew, to study out the problem of restoring the family name to its former effulgence, to decide upon the family attitude, or note, for the season ensuing.  The note, already firmly struck in her summer’s letters to friends,—­with which she had taken immense pains, knowing from herself how closely they would be scanned,—­was that poor Carlisle, shocked into hysteria by the tragedy, had magnanimously blamed herself where she had no blame beyond, perhaps, youthful thoughtlessness.  Thus they were people, and in particular she was a person, severely persecuted for righteousness’ sake, but resolved to bear it nobly.

So much for the note, but a passive thing at best.  None saw more clearly than Mrs. Heth that a quietly resolute campaign of vindication was necessary, none more clearly that a campaign meant money in considerable sums.  If you desired to prove anything, you must have money; stated in another way, you could prove anything provided you spent money enough.  How best to spend large sums in this case?