lived, hadn't a debt in the world, and were guarded against future want by a bunch of bonds in the safety vault of the bank.
Miss Anne went out the next morning with Hildegarde to Round Hill. The Hulburts were to come to dinner, and Hildegarde dressed early and went down. A big fire was blazing in the library, and she stood before it. She had on a simple little frock of white chiffon, and her arms were bare. She had never before had an evening gown without sleeves. She felt very elegant and different in her high-heeled satin slippers and sheer stockings.
When Meriweather came in, he said, "Congratulations."
"Why?"
"On the frock."
"Do you like it?" Her flush was charming.
"More than that. I was half dreading to see you. I was afraid they'd make you look like all the rest of the modern young women."
"But shouldn't one in Rome want to look like the Romans?"
"Heaven forbid!" He drew a chair up to the fire for her, and she sat down.
"You see, I've always lived in the country," she said, with her eyes on the lovely satin slippers touched with pink by the firelight.
He smiled down at her. "So did the goddesses."
"But I'm not a goddess."
"Perhaps you are and don't know it. They weren't all heavy and blonde like the Wagnerian prima donnas. The Germans are responsible for more than the war."
