After all, it was Louise who captured the woman contingency and scored the greatest success; for her appearance was not only dainty and attractive but she was so perfectly self-possessed and responsive and bore herself so admirably under the somewhat trying; circumstances of a debut that she won the cordial goodwill of all whom she encountered.  The hostess was elaborately gowned in white pompadour satin, trimmed with white chiffon and embroidered in pink roses and pearls.  The Von Taer home was handsomely decorated for the occasion, since Diana never did anything by halves and for her own credit insisted on attention to those details of display that society recognizes and loves.  Hundreds of long-stemmed American Beauties and Kentia palms were combined in beautifying the spacious hall, while orchids in marvelous variety nodded their blossoms in the great drawing-room, where the young-ladies received.  These rare and precious flowers were arranged in bronze baskets with sprays of maidenhair.  In the music room adjoining, great clusters of Madam Chantenay roses embellished the charming scene.  Branches of cherry-blossoms, supplied by hot-houses, were banked in the lofty dining-room, where a Japanese pergola made of bamboo and lighted with red lanterns was erected at the upper end.  The attendants here were Japanese girls in native costume, and the long table was laid with a lace cloth over pink satin, with butterfly bows of pink tulle.  The table itself was decorated with cut-glass baskets of Cecil Brunner roses mingled with lilies of the valley and refreshments were distributed to the standing guests as they entered.

The affair was in the nature of a typical “crush,” for Diana’s list of eligibles included most of the prominent society folk then in town, and she was too important a personage to have her invitations disregarded.  Beth and Patsy were fairly bewildered by the numerous introductions, until names became meaningless in their ears; but Louise, perfectly composed and in no wise distracted by her surroundings or the music of the orchestra and the perpetual buzz of conversation in the crowded rooms, impressed each individual upon her memory clearly, and was not likely to blunder in regard to names or individuality in the future.  This is a rare talent, indeed, and scores, largely in one’s favor; for no one likes to think himself so unimportant as to be forgotten, under any circumstances.

It was during the thick of the reception that one of Miss Von Taer’s intimates, a graceful blond girl, suddenly seized her arm and whispered:  “Oh, Diana!  Guess who’s here—­guess, my dear!” Diana knew.  Her eyes, always narrowed until the lashes shielded their sharp watchfulness, seldom missed observing anything of importance.  She pressed her friend’s hand and turned again to the line of guests, while Louise, who had overheard the excited whisper, wondered casually what it might mean.