There had been no one to receive them; a few people, in the rear rows of chairs near them, turned their heads to glance at them, and then looked away again.

Mela had her misgivings; but at the end of the piece Miss Vance came up to them at once, and then Mela knew that she had her eyes on them all the time, and that Christine must have been right.

Christine said nothing about their coming late, and so Mela did not make any excuse, and Miss Vance seemed to expect none.

She glanced with a sort of surprise at Conrad, when Christine introduced him; Mela did not know whether she liked their bringing him, till she shook hands with him, and said: "Oh, I am very glad indeed! Mr.Dryfoos and I have met before." Without explaining where or when, she led them to her aunt and presented them, and then said, "I'm going to put you with some friends of yours," and quickly seated them next the Marches.

Mela liked that well enough; she thought she might have some joking with Mr.March, for all his wife was so stiff; but the look which Christine wore seemed to forbid, provisionally at least, any such recreation.