Flossy spoke with the artless prattle of one seeking to make herself agreeable to a new-comer by explaining the existing order of things, but she had chosen her words as she proceeded with special reference to her listener’s case.  There was nothing in her manner to suggest that she was trifling with the feelings of the wife of Hon. James O. Lyons, but to Selma’s sensitive ear there was no doubt that the impertinent and unpatriotic tirade had been deliberately aimed at her.  The closing words had a disagreeably familiar sound.  Save that they fell from seemingly friendly lips they recalled the ban which Flossy had hurled at her at the close of their last meeting—­the ban which had decided her to declare unwavering hostility against social exclusiveness.  Its veiled reiteration now made her nerves tingle, but the personal affront stirred her less than the conclusion, which the whole of Flossy’s commentary suggested, that Washington—­Washington the hearth-stone of American ideals, was contaminated also.  Flossy had given her to understand that the houses which she had assumed to be occupied by members of the Government were chiefly the residences of people resembling in character those whom she had disapproved of in New York.  Flossy had intimated that unless a woman were hand in glove with these people and ready to lower herself to their standards, she must be the wife of a rich Senator to be tolerated.  Flossy had virtually told her that a Congressman’s wife was nobody.  Could this be true?  The bitterest part of all was that it was evident Flossy spoke with the assurance of one uttering familiar truths.  Selma felt affronted and bitterly disappointed, but she chose to meet Mrs. Williams’s innocent affability with composure; to let her see that she disagreed with her, but not to reveal her personal irritation.  She must consider Lyons, whose swift political promotion was necessary for her plans.  It was important that he should become rich, and if his relations with the firm of Williams & Van Horne tended to that end, no personal grievance of her own should disturb them.  Even Flossy had conceded that the wives of the highest officials could not be ignored.

“I fear that we look at these matters from too different a standpoint to discuss them further,” she responded, with an effort at smiling ease.  “Evidently you do not appreciate that to the majority of the strong women of the country whose husbands have been sent to Washington as members of the Government social interests seem trivial compared with the great public questions they are required to consider.  These women doubtless feel little inclination for fashionable and—­or—­frivolous festivities, and find an occasion like this better suited to their conception of social dignity.”