Mrs.Cowperwood stood with her husband and Anna in the main entrance to the reception room, while Joseph and Edward Cowperwood and Mr.and Mrs.Henry W.Cowperwood lingered in the background.

Lillian looked charming in a train gown of old rose, with a low, square neck showing a delicate chemisette of fine lace.

Her face and figure were still notable, though her face was not as smoothly sweet as it had been years before when Cowperwood had first met her.

Anna Cowperwood was not pretty, though she could not be said to be homely.

She was small and dark, with a turned-up nose, snapping black eyes, a pert, inquisitive, intelligent, and alas, somewhat critical, air.