His words startled me, the thought had never before occurred to me that I might be rich.  I went to my room, and, with more than my usual care, dressed for dinner.  Compared with Esmerelda’s, my gowns were getting shabby, and old-fashioned; and I concluded if I had means of my own, it was time to treat myself charitably as well as my poor acquaintances.  The dinner bell rang at last, and I went down with some trepidation to meet my guardian.  My conscience confronted me with my repeated words of insubordination during the day, commanding me to apologize for my rudeness; but instinct with a stronger voice counselled silence.  As we took our seats at dinner, Mrs. Flaxman, I thought, with a worried expression was furtively regarding us; but she kept silent.  With a good-humored smile Mr. Winthrop turned to me, saying:  “Your crowd did not fall to quarrelling over the spoil, I hope.”

“I wish you could have seen how good-humored they were on leaving.  I think they would have talked above their breath only they were afraid.”

“You did not strike me as looking particularly formidable.  Indeed, I quite pitied you; for you seemed the most frightened, nervous one in the lot.”

“They were not afraid of me.  Even the widow Larkum’s baby cooed softly until you were out of sight.”

“It must be a child of amazing intelligence.”

Mrs. Flaxman, looking more anxious than ever interjected a remark, not very relevantly, about the prospect of our early winter; but Mr. Winthrop allowed her remark to fall unheeded.

“You seem particularly interested in that tender-eyed widow and her infant.  Is it long since you made their acquaintance?”

“I cannot say that I am even now acquainted with her.”  I answered politely.

“I should judge you had a weakness for widows.  Mrs. Blake seems on very cordial terms with you.”

“I would take just as much interest in your widow, Mr. Winthrop, if she was poor and sorrowful.  The wheel of fortune may make a revolution some day, and give me the opportunity.”

He really seemed to enjoy the retort which fell uncontrollably from my lips.

“Allow me to thank you beforehand for your kind offices to that afflicted individual; though the prospect for their being required is not very good at present.”

“Mrs. Fleming has sent invitations for a garden-party,” Mrs. Flaxman interposed desperately.  “I think Mr. Winthrop had better permit you to go to New York for some additions to your toilet.”

“I will accompany her myself; she might get entangled with widowers on her next trip.”

“Not if they are as provoking as the unmarried,” I murmured below my breath; but he seemed to catch my meaning.

“They understand the art of pleasing your sex amazingly.  I believe you would find them more fascinating than Mrs. Blake, or your new friend, the widow Larkum.”