Mrs. Wilcox generally shaped her course by Mrs. Lennox:  still she had promised Letitia Ferguson to be gracious to the Seymours in their exigency, and to call on the Follingsbees; so there was a confusion all round.  The young people of both families declared that they were going, just to see the fun.  Bob Lennox, with the usual vivacity of Young America, said he didn’t “care a hang who set a ball rolling, if only something was kept stirring.”  The subject was discussed when Mrs. Lennox and Mrs. Wilcox were making a morning call upon the Fergusons.

“For my part,” said Mrs. Lennox, “I’m principled on this subject.  Those Follingsbees are not proper people.  They are of just that vulgar, pushing class, against which I feel it my duty to set my face like a flint; and I’m astonished that a man like John Seymour should go into relations with them.  You see it puts all his friends in a most embarrassing position.”

“Dear Mrs. Lennox,” said Rose Ferguson, “indeed, it is not Mr. Seymour’s fault.  These persons are invited by his wife.”

“Well, what business has he to allow his wife to invite them?  A man should be master in his own house.”

“But, my dear Mrs. Lennox,” said Mrs. Ferguson, “such a pretty young creature, and just married! of course it would be unhandsome not to allow her to have her friends.”

“Certainly,” said Judge Ferguson, “a gentleman cannot be rude to his wife’s invited guests; for my part, I think Seymour is putting the best face he can on it; and we must all do what we can to help him.  We shall all attend the Seymour party.”

“Well,” said Mrs. Wilcox, “I think we shall go.  To be sure, it is not what I should like to do.  I don’t approve of these Follingsbees.  Mr. Wilcox was saying, this morning, that his money was made by frauds on the government, which ought to have put him in the State Prison.”

“Now, I say,” said Mrs. Lennox, “such people ought to be put down socially:  I have no patience with their airs.  And that Mrs. Follingsbee, I have heard that she was a milliner, or shop-girl, or some such thing; and to see the airs she gives herself!  One would think it was the Empress Eugenie herself, come to queen it over us in America.  I can’t help thinking we ought to take a stand.  I really do.”

“But, dear Mrs. Lennox, we are not obliged to cultivate further relations with people, simply from exchanging ordinary civilities with them on one evening,” said Judge Ferguson.

“But, my dear sir, these pushing, vulgar, rich people take advantage of every opening.  Give them an inch, and they will take an ell,” said Mrs. Lennox.  “Now, if I go, they will be claiming acquaintance with me in Newport next summer.  Well, I shall cut them,—­dead.”

“Trust you for that,” said Miss Letitia, laughing; “indeed, Mrs. Lennox, I think you may go wherever you please with perfect safety.  People will never saddle themselves on you longer than you want them; so you might as well go to the party with the rest of us.”