Selma blushed, but not wholly with pleasure.  Socially conspicuous before many years?  The splendid prophecy, which went beyond the limit of Horace Elton’s usual caution—­for he combined the faculty of habitual discretion with his chatty proclivities—­was dimmed for Selma by the rasping intimation that she was not conspicuous yet.  Worse still, his statement shattered the hope, which Flossy’s fluent assertions had already disturbed, that she was to find in Washington a company of congenial spirits who would appreciate her at her full value forthwith, and would join with her and under her leadership in resisting the encroachments of women of the stamp of Mrs. Williams.

“I am very ambitious for my husband, Mr. Elton, and of course I have hoped—­do hope that some day he will be a Senator.  What you said just now as to the power of his voice to arouse the moral enthusiasm of the people seemed to be impressively true.  I should be glad to be a Senator’s wife, for—­for I wish to help him.  I wish to demonstrate the truth of the principles to which both our lives are dedicated.  But I hoped that I might help him now—­that my mission might be clear at once.  It seems according to you that a Congressman’s wife is not of much importance; that her hands are tied.”

“Practically so, unless—­unless she has unusual social facility, and the right sort of acquaintances.  Beauty, wealth and ambition are valuable aids, but I always am sorry for women who come here without friends, and—­er—­the right sort of introduction.  At any rate, to answer your question frankly, a Congressman’s wife has her spurs to win just as he has.  If you were to set up house-keeping, here, Mrs. Lyons, I’ve no doubt that a woman of your attractions and capabilities would soon make a niche for herself.  You have had social experience, which Addie Farr, for instance, was without.”

“I lived in New York for some years with my husband, Mr. Littleton, so I have a number of Eastern acquaintances.”

“I remember you were talking with Mrs. Gregory Williams when I was introduced to you.  The people with whom she is staying are among the most fashionable in Washington.  What I said had reference to the wife of the every-day Congressman who comes to Washington expecting recognition.  Not to Mrs. James O. Lyons.”

Selma bit her lip.  She recognized the death-knell of her cherished expectations.  She was not prepared to acknowledge formally her discomfiture and her disappointment.  But she believed that Mr. Elton, though a plain man, had comprehensive experience and that he spoke with shrewd knowledge of the situation.  She felt sure that he was not trying to deceive or humiliate her.  It was clear that Washington was contaminated also.