“I’d like my girls to get into the best—­the most select—­circles,” he announced.  “They’re good and pretty and well-mannered, so it strikes me they’re entitled to the best there is a-going.  I don’t want to mix with your swell crowd myself, because I ain’t fit; likewise the outfit ain’t much to my taste, askin’ your pardon; but with women it’s different.  They need to stand high an’ shine bright to make ’em really happy, and if any special lot is particularly ex-clusive an’ high-falutin’, that’s the crowd they long to swarm with.  It’s human nature—­female human nature, anyhow.  You catch my idea, Von Taer, don’t you?”

“I think so, Mr. Merrick.  Yet I fail to see how I can be of service to you in gratifying the ambition of your charming nieces.”  “Then I’ll go, and you may forget what I’ve said.”  The visitor arose and took his hat from the table.  “It was only a fool notion, anyway; just a thought, badly expressed, to help my girls to a toy that money can’t buy.”

Hedrik Von Taer gazed steadily into the man’s face.  There was something in the simple, honest self-abnegation of this wealthy and important person that won the respect of all he met.  The broker’s stern eyes softened a bit as he gazed and he allowed a fugitive smile, due to his own change of attitude, to wreathe his thin lips again—­just for an instant.

“Sit down, please, Mr. Merrick,” he requested, and rather reluctantly Uncle John resumed his seat.  “You may not have an especially clear idea of New York society, and I want to explain my recent remark so that you will understand it.  What is called ‘the 400’ may or may not exist; but certainly it is no distinct league or association.  It may perhaps be regarded as a figure of speech, to indicate how few are really admitted to the most exclusive circles.  Moreover, there can be no dominant ‘leader of society’ here, for the reason that not all grades of society would recognize the supremacy of any one set, or clique.  These cliques exist for various reasons.  They fraternize generally, but keep well within their own circles.  Kindred tastes attract some; ancient lineage others.  There is an ultra-fashionable set, a sporting set, a literary set, an aristocratic set, a rather ‘fast’ set, a theatrical set—­and so on.  These may all lay claim with certain justice to membership in good society.  Their circles are to an extent exclusive, because some distinction must mark the eligibility of members.  And outside each luminous sphere hovers a multitude eager to pass the charmed circle and so acquire recognition.  Often it is hard to separate the initiate from the uninitiate, even by those most expert.  Is it difficult to comprehend such a condition as I have described, Mr. Merrick?”

“Somewhat, Mr. Von Taer.  The wonder to me is why people waste time in such foolishness.”