Mr. Talbot did not urge wine upon his principal, for he saw that he was excited and off his guard; and when, at length, the banquet came to its conclusion, the proprietor declined to remain with the gentlemen and the supplementary wine and cigars, but took coffee in the drawing-room with the ladies.  Mrs. Dillingham’s eye was on Mrs. Talbot, and when she saw her start toward them from her seat, she took Mr. Belcher’s arm for a tour among the artistic treasures of the house.

“My dear Kate,” said Mrs. Dillingham, “give me the privilege of showing Mr. Belcher some of your beautiful things.”

“Oh, certainly,” responded Mrs. Talbot, her face flushing, “and don’t forget yourself, my child, among the rest.”

Mrs. Dillingham pressed Mr. Belcher’s arm, an action which said:  “Oh, the jealous creature!”

They went from painting to painting, and sculpture to sculpture, and then, over a cabinet of bric-a-brac, she quietly led the conversation to Mr. Belcher’s prospective occupation of the Palgrave mansion.  She had nothing in the world to do.  She should be so happy to assist poor Mrs. Belcher in the adjustment of her housekeeping.  It would be a real pleasure to her to arrange the furniture, and do anything to help that quiet country lady in inaugurating the splendors of city life.  She knew all the caterers, all the confectioners, all the modistes, all the city ways, and all the people worth knowing.  She was willing to become, for Mrs. Belcher’s sake, city-directory, commissionaire, adviser, director, everything.  She would take it as a great kindness if she could be permitted to make herself useful.

All this was honey to the proprietor.  How Mrs. Dillingham would shine in his splendid mansion!  How she would illuminate his landau!  How she would save his quiet wife, not to say himself, from the gaucheries of which both would be guilty until the ways of the polite world could be learned!  How delightful it would be to have a sympathetic friend whose intelligent and considerate advice would be always ready!

When the gentlemen returned to the drawing-room, and disturbed the confidential tete-a-tete of these new friends, Mrs. Dillingham declared it was time to go, and Mr. Belcher insisted on seeing her home in his own carriage.

The dinner party broke up with universal hand-shakings.  Mr. Belcher was congratulated on his magnificent purchase and prospects.  They would all be happy to make Mrs. Belcher’s acquaintance, and she really must lose no time in letting them know when she would be ready to receive visitors.

Mr. Belcher saw Mrs. Dillingham home.  He held her pretty hands at parting, as if he were an affectionate older brother who was about to sail on a voyage around the world.  At last he hurriedly relinquished her to the man-servant who had answered her summons, then ran down the steps and drove to his hotel.

Mounting to his rooms, he lit every burner in his parlor, and then surveyed himself in the mirror.