The episode impaired the success of the first morning visit.  At the next, which occurred a fortnight later, Pauline announced that she had a piece of interesting news.

“Do you know a Mr. Joel Flagg in Benham?”

“I know who he is,” said Selma.  “I have met his daughter.”

“It seems he has made a fortune in oil and real estate, and is desirous to build a college for women in memory of his mother, Sarah Wetmore.  One of my friends has just received a letter from a Mrs. Hallett Taylor, to whom Mr. Flagg appears to have applied for counsel, and who wishes some of us who are interested in educational matters to serve as an advisory committee.  Probably you know Mrs. Taylor too?”

“Oh yes.  I have been at her house, and I served with her on the committee which awarded Wilbur the church.”

“Why, then you are the very person to tell us all about her.  I think I remember now having heard Wilbur mention her name.”

“Wilbur fancied her, I believe.”

“Your tone rather implies that you did not.  You must tell me everything you know.  My friend has corresponded with her before in regard to some artistic matters, but she has never met her.  Her letter suggests a lady.”

“I dare say you would like Mrs. Taylor,” said Selma, gravely.  “She is attractive, I suppose, and seemed to know more or less about European art and pictures, but we in Benham didn’t consider her exactly an American.  If you really wish to know my opinion, I think that she was too exclusive a person to have fine ideas.”

“That’s a pity.”

“If she lived in New York she would like to be one of those society ladies who live on Fifth Avenue; only she hasn’t really any conception of what true elegance is.  Her house there, except for the ornaments she had bought abroad, was not so well furnished as the one I lived in.  I wonder what she would think if she could look into the drawing-room of my friend Mrs. Williams.”

“I see,” said Pauline, though in truth she was puzzled.  “I am sorry if she is a fine lady, but people like that, when they become interested, are often excellent workers.  It is a noble gift of Mr. Flagg’s—­$500,000 as a foundation fund.  He’s a good American at all events.  Wilbur must certainly compete for the buildings, and his having first met you there ought to be an inspiration to him to do fine work.”

Selma had been glad of the opportunity to criticise Mrs. Hallett Taylor, whom she had learned, by the light of her superior social knowledge, to regard as an unimportant person.  Yet she had been conscious of a righteous impulse in saying what she thought of her.  She knew that she had never liked Mrs. Taylor, and she was not pleased to hear that Mr. Flagg had selected her from among the women of Benham to superintend the administration of his splendid gift.  Benham had come to seem to her remote and primitive, yet she preferred, and was in the mood, to think that