"That girl," as Mrs.Bassett designated Sylvia in private conversation with her husband, had been planted in Elizabeth House for a purpose.

Her relief that Sylvia had not been settled in the Delaware Street residence had been of short duration: Mrs.Bassett saw now that it was only the girl's adroit method of impressing upon Mrs.Owen her humility and altruism.

Still Mrs.
Bassett was not wholly unhappy.

It was something to be near at hand where she could keep track of Sylvia's movements; and the social scene at the capital was not without its interest for her.

She was not merely the wife of Morton Bassett, but the only child of the late Blackford Singleton, sometime Senator in Congress.