Mrs. Sampson
even, in her secret heart, considered the advisability of calling upon
her late guest in her new quarters, but reluctantly abandoned the idea
as being likely, on the whole, to be productive of no good results
socially. That Miss Merrivale would probably forget her as quickly as
possible she was but too well assured, and it pretty exactly indicates
the position of the widow toward society that this prospective
ingratitude moved her to no indignation. It was so exactly the course
which in similar circumstances she herself would have pursued, that no
question of its propriety presented itself to her mind. Even the faint
air of conscious guilt with which the girl announced her intention did
not arouse in Mrs. Sampson any feeling of surprise or bitterness.
Society to her mind was a ladder, and being so, to climb it was but to
follow the use for which it was designed.
Miss Merrivale was of better stuff, and if not well bred enough to live
up to the obligations she had assumed by becoming Mrs. Sampson's guest,
she was at least conscious of them; and she said good-by with an air of
apologetic cordiality, quieting her conscience by the secret
determination some time to repay the widow's kindness in one way or
another, although she should be obliged to repudiate her socially. Had
she known Mrs. Staggchase better, and been aware how much she fell in
that lady's estimation by throwing Mrs.
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