More than a week had passed since she left Massapequa and what with corresponding with financiers, calling on editors and publishers, every moment of her time had been kept busy.

She had found a quiet and reasonable priced boarding house off Washington Square and here Stott had called several times to see her.

Her correspondence with Mr.Ryder had now reached a phase when it was impossible to invent any further excuses for delaying the interview asked for.

As she had foreseen, a day or two after her arrival in town she had received a note from Mrs.Ryder asking her to do her the honour to call and see her, and Shirley, after waiting another two days, had replied making an appointment for the following day at three o'clock.

This was the same day on which the paragraph concerning the Ryder-Roberts engagement appeared in the society chronicles of the metropolis.
Directly after the meagre meal which in New York boarding houses is dignified by the name of luncheon, Shirley proceeded to get ready for this portentous visit to the Ryder mansion.