Selma returned Mrs. Williams’s call during the week, but did not find her at home.  A few days later arrived a note stamped with a purple and gold monogram inviting them to dinner.  When the evening arrived they found only a party of four.  A third couple had given out at the last minute, so they were alone with their hosts.  The Williams house in its decoration and upholstery was very different from their own.  The drawing-room was bright with color.  The furniture was covered with light blue plush; there were blue and yellow curtains, gay cushions, and a profusion of gilt ornamentation.  A bear-skin, a show picture on an easel, and a variety of florid bric-a-brac completed the brilliant aspect of the apartment.  Selma reflected at once that that this was the sort of drawing-room which would have pleased her had she been given her head and a full purse.  It suggested her home at Benham refurnished by the light of her later experience undimmed by the shadow of economy.  On the way down to dinner she noticed in the corner of the hall a suit of old armor, and she was able to perceive that the little room on one side of the front door, which they learned subsequently was Mr. Williams’s den, contained Japanese curiosities.  The dinner-table shone with glass and silver ware, and was lighted by four candles screened by small pink shades.  By the side of Flossy’s plate and her own was a small bunch of violets, and there was a rosebud for each of the men.  The dinner, which was elaborate, was served by two trig maids.  There were champagne and frozen pudding.  Selma felt almost as if she were in fairy-land.  She had never experienced anything just like this before; but her exacting conscience was kept at bay by the reflection that this must be a further manifestation of the New York manner, and her self-respect was propitiated by the cordiality of her entertainers.  The conversation was bubbling and light-hearted on the part of both Mr. and Mrs. Williams.  They kept up a running prattle on the current fads of the day, the theatre, the doings of well-known social personages, and their own household possessions, which they naively called to the attention of their guests, that they might be admired.  But Selma enjoyed more than the general conversation her talk with the master of the house, who possessed all the friendly suavity of his wife and also the valuable masculine trait of seeming to be utterly absorbed in any woman to whom he was talking.  Gregory had a great deal of manner and a confidential fluency of style, which gave distinction even to commonplace remarks.  His method did not condescend to nudging when he wished to note a point, but it fell only so far short of it as he thought social elegance required.  His conversation presently drifted, or more properly speaking, flowed into a graphic and frank account of his own progress as a banker.  He referred to past successful undertakings, descanted on his present roseate responsibilities, and hinted sagely at impending