conservatism； wealth （which implied ability and superiority） was playing
a greater part； entertainments were more luxurious； lines more strictly
drawn。 We had an elaborate country club for those who could afford
expensive amusements。 Much of this transformation had been due to the
initiative and leadership of Nancy Durrett。。。。
Great and sudden wealth； however； if combined with obscure antecedents
and questionable qualifications； was still looked upon askance。 In spite
of the fact that Adolf Scherer had 〃put us on the map；〃 the family of the
great iron…master still remained outside of the social pale。 He himself
might have entered had it not been for his wife； who was supposed to be
〃queer；〃 who remained at home in her house opposite Gallatin Park and
made little German cakes；a huge house which an unknown architect had
taken unusual pains to make pretentious and hideous； for it was Rhenish；
Moorish and Victorian by turns。 Its geometric grounds matched those of
the park； itself a monument to bad taste in landscape。 The neighbourhood
was highly respectable； and inhabited by families of German extraction。
There were two flaxen…haired daughters who had just graduated from an
expensive boarding…school in New York； where they had received the polish
needful for future careers。 But the careers were not forthcoming。
I was thrown constantly with Adolf Scherer； I had earned his gratitude； I
had become necessary to him。 But after the great coup whereby he had
fulfilled Mr。 Watling's prophecy and become the chief factor in our
business world he began to show signs of discontent； of an irritability
that seemed foreign to his character； and that puzzled me。 One day；
however； I stumbled upon the cause of this fermentation； to wonder that I
had not discovered it before。 In many ways Adolf Scherer was a child。
We were sitting in the Boyne Club。
〃Moneyyes！〃 he exclaimed； apropos of some demand made upon him by a
charitable society。 〃They come to me for my moneythere is always
Scherer； they say。 He will make up the deficit in the hospitals。 But
what is it they do for me？ Nothing。 Do they invite me to their houses；
to their parties？〃
This was what he wanted； then；social recognition。 I said nothing； but
I saw my opportunity： I had the clew； now； to a certain attitude he had
adopted of late toward me； an attitude of reproach； as though； in return
for his many favours to me； there were something I had left undone。 And
when I went home I asked Maude to call on Mrs。 Scherer。
〃On Mrs。 Scherer！〃 she repeated。
〃Yes； I want you to invite them to dinner。〃 The proposal seemed to take
away her breath。 〃I owe her husband a great deal； and I think he feels
hurt that the wives of the men he knows down town haven't taken up his
family。〃 I felt that it would not be wise； with Maude； to announce my
rather amazing discovery of the iron…master's social ambitions。
〃But； Hugh； they must be very happy； they have their friends。 And after
all this time wouldn't it seem like an intrusion？〃
〃I don't think so；〃 I said； 〃I'm sure it would please him； and them。 You
know how kind he's been to us； how he sent us East in his private car
last year。〃
〃Of course I'll go if you wish it； if you're sure they feel that way。〃
She did make the call； that very week； and somewhat to my surprise
reported that she liked Mrs。 Scherer and the daughters： Maude's likes and
dislikes； needless to say； were not governed by matters of policy。
〃 You were right； Hugh；〃 she informed me； almost with enthusiasm；
〃they did seem lonely。 And they were so glad to see me； it was rather
pathetic。 Mr。 Scherer； it seems； had talked to them a great deal about
you。 They wanted to know why I hadn't come before。 That was rather
embarrassing。 Fortunately they didn't give me time to talk； I never
heard people talk as they do。 They all kissed me when I went away； and
came down the steps with me。 And Mrs。 Scherer went into the conservatory
and picked a huge bouquet。 There it is；〃 she said； laughingly； pointing
to several vases。 〃I separated the colours as well as I could when I got
home。 We had coffee； and the most delicious German cakes in the Turkish
room； or the Moorish room； whichever it is。 I'm sure I shan't be able
to eat anything more for days。 When do you wish to have them for dinner？〃
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃we ought to have time to get the right people to meet
them。 We'll ask Nancy and Ham。〃
Maude opened her eyes。
〃Nancy！ Do you think Nancy would like them？〃
〃I'm going to give her a chance； anyway；〃 I replied。。。。
It was； in some ways； a memorable dinner。 I don't know what I expected
in Mrs。 Schererfrom Maude's description a benevolent and somewhat
stupid； blue…eyed German woman； of peasant extraction。 There could be no
doubt about the peasant extraction； but when she hobbled into our little
parlour with the aid of a stout； gold…headed cane she dominated it。 Her
very lameness added to a distinction that evinced itself in a dozen ways。
Her nose was hooked； her colour high；despite the years in Steelville；
her peculiar costume heightened the effect of her personality； her fire…
lit black eyes bespoke a spirit accustomed to rule； and instead of being
an aspirant for social honours； she seemed to confer them。 Conversation
ceased at her entrance。
〃I'm sorry we are late； my dear；〃 she said； as she greeted Maude
affectionately； 〃but we have far to come。 And this is your husband！〃
she exclaimed； as I was introduced。 She scrutinized me。 〃I have heard
something of you； Mr。 Paret。 You are smart。 Shall I tell you the
smartest thing you ever did？〃 She patted Maude's shoulder。 〃When you
married your wifethat was it。 I have fallen in love with her。 If you
do not know it； I tell you。〃
Next； Nancy was introduced。
〃So you are Mrs。 Hambleton Durrett？〃
Nancy acknowledged her identity with a smile； but the next remark was a
bombshell。
〃The leader of society。〃
〃Alas！〃 exclaimed Nancy； 〃I have been accused of many terrible things。〃
Their glances met。 Nancy's was amused； baffling； like a spark in amber。
Each； in its way； was redoubtable。 A greater contrast between two women
could scarcely have been imagined。 It was well said （and not snobbishly）
that generations had been required to make Nancy's figure： she wore a
dress of blue sheen； the light playing on its ripples； and as she stood；
apparently wholly at ease； looking down at the wife of Adolf Scherer； she
reminded me of an expert swordsman who； with remarkable skill； was
keeping a too pressing and determined aspirant at arm's length。 I was
keenly aware that Maude did not possess this gift； and I realized for the
first time something of the similarity between Nancy's career and my own。
She； too； in her feminine sphere； exercised； and subtly； a power in which
human passions were deeply involved。
If Nancy Durrett symbolized aristocracy； established order and prestige；
what did Mrs。 Scherer represent？ Not democracy； mob rulecertainly。
The stocky German peasant woman with her tightly drawn hair and heavy
jewels seemed grotesquely to embody something that ultimately would have
its way； a lusty and terrible force in the interests of which my own
services were enlisted； to which the old American element in business and
industry； the male counterpart of Nancy Willett； had already succumbed。
And now it was about to storm the feminine fastnesses！ I beheld a woman
who had come to this country with a shawl aver her head transformed into
a new species of duchess； sure of herself； scorning the delicate
euphemisms in which Fancy's kind were wont to refer to asocial realm；
that was no less real because its boundaries had not definitely been
defined。 She held her stick firmly； and gave Nancy an indomitable look。
〃I want you to meet my daughters。 Gretchen； Anna； come here and be
introduced to Mrs。 Durrett。〃
It was not without curiosity I watched these of the second generation as
they made their bows； noted the differentiation in the type for which an
American environment and a 〃finishing school〃 had been responsible。
Gretchen and Anna had learnedin crises； such as the presentto
restrain the superabundant vitality they had inherited。 If their
cheekbones were a little too high； their Delft blue eyes a little too
small； their colour was of the proverbial rose…leaves and cream。 Gene
Hollister's difficulty was to know which to marry。 They were nice
girls；of that there could be no doubt； there was no false modesty in
their attitude toward 〃society〃； nor did they pretendas so many silly
people did； that they were not attempting to get anywhere in particular；
that it was less desirable to be in the centre than on the dubious outer
walks。 They； too； were so glad to meet Mrs。 Durrett。
Nancy's eyes twinkled as they passed on。
〃You see what I have let you in for？〃 I said。
〃My dear Hugh；〃 she replied； 〃sooner or later we should have had to face
them anyhow。 I have recognized that for some time。 With their money；
and Mr。 Scherer's prestige； and the will of that lady with the stick； in
a few years we should have had nothing to say。 Why； she's a female
Napoleon。 Hilda's the man of the family。〃
After that； Nancy invariably referred to Mrs。 Scherer as Hilda。
If Mrs。 Scherer was a surprise to us； her husband was a still greater
one； and I had difficulty in recognizing the Adolf Scherer who came to
our dinner party as the personage of the business world before whom
lesser men were wont to cringe。 He seemed rather mysteriously to have
shed that personality； become an awkward； ingratiating； rather too
exuberant； ordinary man with a marked German accent。 From time to time I
found myself speculating uneasily on this phenomenon as I glanced down
the table at his great torso； white waist…coated for the occasion。 He
was plainly 〃making up〃 to Nancy； and to Mrs。 Ogilvy； who sat opposite
him。 On the whole； the atmosphere of our entertainment was rather
electric。 〃Hilda〃 was chiefly responsible for this； her frankness was of
the breath…taking kind。 Far from attempting to hide or ignore the
struggle by which she and her husband had attained their present
position； she referr