They were mothers of girls among the dancers, and they were there to fend and contrive for their offspring; to keep them in countenance through any trial; to lend them diplomacy in the carrying out of all enterprises; to be "background" for them; and in these essentially biological functionings to imitate their own matings and renew the excitement of their nuptial periods.

Older men, husbands of these ladies and fathers of eligible girls, were also to be seen, most of them with Mr.Palmer in a billiard-room across the corridor.

Mr.and Mrs.Adams had not been invited.

"Of course papa and mama just barely know Mildred Palmer," Alice thought, "and most of the other girls' fathers and mothers are old friends of Mr.and Mrs.Palmer, but I do think she might have ASKED papa and mama, anyway--she needn't have been afraid just to ask them; she knew they couldn't come." And her smiling lip twitched a little threateningly, as she concluded the silent monologue.

"I suppose she thinks I ought to be glad enough she asked Walter!" Walter was, in fact, rather noticeable.