"
"You sweet old simpleton, of course you have! But here it is half
past seven, and you haven't begun to dress. Be off with you."
Although, at first, I had felt it would be all but impossible for me
to attend Mrs. Porter's dinner, my talk with Blakely had so raised
my spirits that now I was able to face the ordeal with something
very like serenity. What did it matter? What did anything matter, so
long as Blakely loved me? Then, too, I knew I was looking my very
best; my white lace gown was a dream; Valentine had never done my
hair so becomingly.
When Blakely called at our rooms for Dad and me, I was not at all
unhappy. And the dear boy was so relieved to see it! I will confess,
however, to one moment of real terror as we approached the drawing
room where we were to join our hostess. But her greeting was most
cordial and reassuring. And when she begged me to stand up with her,
and help her receive her guests, I almost felt at home, for I knew
it meant her surrender was unconditional.
After, that, it was like a beautiful dream. Except that some of the
"Choicest Flowers" of San Francisco society were fearfully and
fashionably late, nothing occurred to disturb the social atmosphere.
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