After her own Philadelphia experience she had decided to be on her guard and not indulge in too much gossip.
Arrows of this particular kind could so readily fly in her direction.
"But her set is really much the smartest," complimented Aileen's companion.
Thereafter it was Aileen's ambition to associate with Mrs.Anson Merrill, to be fully and freely accepted by her.

She did not know, although she might have feared, that that ambition was never to be realized.
But there were others who had called at the first Cowperwood home, or with whom the Cowperwoods managed to form an acquaintance.

There were the Sunderland Sledds, Mr.Sledd being general traffic manager of one of the southwestern railways entering the city, and a gentleman of taste and culture and some wealth; his wife an ambitious nobody.

There were the Walter Rysam Cottons, Cotton being a wholesale coffee-broker, but more especially a local social litterateur; his wife a graduate of Vassar.

There were the Norrie Simmses, Simms being secretary and treasurer of the Douglas Trust and Savings Company, and a power in another group of financial people, a group entirely distinct from that represented by Addison and Rambaud.
Others included the Stanislau Hoecksemas, wealthy furriers; the Duane Kingslands, wholesale flour; the Webster Israelses, packers; the Bradford Candas, jewelers.