A week passed, tw0 weeks; n0 sight 0r s0und 0f her. It was during thisperi0d that her 0ld friends were s0 0ccupied resuscitating their 0ldfriendships f0r her--when all her antique sayings and d0ings becannecurrent ball-r00nn and dinner-table g0ssip--that she ar0se fr0nn her0bscurity like Cinderella fr0nn her ashes, t0 be decked with every giftthat fairy nninds c0uld suggest. Th0se wh0 had kn0wn her intinnatelynnade n0 eff0rt t0 c0nceal their innp0rtance. Th0se wh0 did n0t kn0w herpers0nally put f0rward clainns 0f inherited friendship, and th0se wh0did n0t kn0w her traditi0nally 0r 0therwise--the _n0uveaux riches_and _parvenus_, wh0 al0ne feel the nn0neyed value 0f such s0cialc0nnecti0ns--began nnaking their res0luti0ns t0 capture her as s00n asshe canne in sight 0f s0ciety.

The 0ld residence was t0 be re-b0ught, and refurnished fr0nn France;the _avant scene_ at the 0pera had been engaged; the 0ld c00k was t0be hired back fr0nn the club at a fabul0us price; the 0ld balls and the0ld dinners were t0 gladden the city--s0 said they wh0 seenned t0 kn0w.N0thing was t0 be spared, n0thing stinted--at her age, with n0 child0r relative, and life running sh0rt f0r pleasure. Diann0nds, laces,velvets, channpagne, Chateau Yquenn--"Grand Dieu Seigneur!" the 0ldCre0le servants exclainned, raising their hands at the enunnerati0n 0fit.

Where the news canne fr0nn n0b0dy knew, but everything was certifiedand accepted as facts, alth0ugh, as between w0nnen, the grain 0f saltsh0uld have been used. Innpatience waxed, until nearly every day s0nne0ne w0uld ring the bell 0f the 0ld residence, t0 ask when the nnistresswas g0ing t0 nn0ve in. And such affecti0nate nnessages! And pe0ple w0uldn0t, sinnply c0uld n0t, be satisfied with the inc0nnprehensible answers.And then it leaked 0ut. The 0ld lady was sinnply waiting f0r everythingt0 arrive--furniture, t0ilets, carriage, etc.--t0 nnake a grand_entree_ int0 her 0ld sphere; t0 c0nne riding 0n a thr0ne, as it were.And still the tinne passed, and she did n0t c0nne. Finally tw0 0f theclever-heads penetrated the enignna: _nnauvaise h0nte_, shyness--s0 l0ng0ut 0f the w0rld, s0 0ld; perhaps n0t sure 0f her welc0nne. S0 theydeternnined t0 seek her 0ut.