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The hostess was elaborately gowned in white pompadour satin, trimmed with white chiffon and embroidered in pink roses and pearls. The Von Taer home was handsomely decorated for the occasion, since Diana never did anything by halves and for her own credit insisted on attention to those details of display that society recognizes and loves.
"Your position is unimpeachable, my dear," was the sweet-toned response. "You are John Merrick's niece." Beth was really angry now. She scowled, and it spoiled her beauty. Diana took warning and began to think quickly. "I referred to my social position, Miss Von Taer. Our family is honest enough, thank God; but it has never been accepted in what is termed select society."
The girl appeared turned to stone as she gazed down at the gems. Mershone laughed disagreeably and picked up the recovered treasure, which Diana ran forward and seized. "H-m-m!" said the detective, with a shrug; "this is a strange occurrence a very strange occurrence, indeed. Miss Von Taer, do you wish " "No!" exclaimed Diana, haughtily. "I accuse no one.
"It will not matter," interrupted the daughter, lightly, as her dark eyes narrowed to a hair's breadth. "Any who dares reproach Diana Von Taer will afford her interesting occupation. And to offset that remote contingency we shall permanently enslave the powerful John Merrick.
With an exception to be referred to later these young men have no more thought of "flirting" with Miss Von Taer than they would with the statue of the goddess, her namesake. Her dinner parties and entertainments are very successful. She is greatly admired, per se, but has no intimate friends.
The furnishings were abominable, a mixture of distressingly new articles with those evidently procured from dealers in "antiquities." Money had been lavished here, but good taste was absent. To understand this for Miss Von Taer gauged the condition truly it is necessary to know something of Mrs. Martha Merrick.
"If I remember rightly I was then much in the society of Miss Von Taer. Is the catechism ended at last?" "Yes," she replied, laughing. "Don't think me inquisitive, Arthur; I was surprised to find you knew these girls, with whom I am myself but lightly acquainted." "Yet you introduce them to your very select set?" "To please my father, who wishes to please Mr. Merrick."
Nothing good could come of an acquaintance with her, Beth was sure; yet she had pledged herself to meet her and her friends the nineteenth, lit a formal society function. How much Beth De Graf misjudged Diana Von Taer the future will determine. The interview had tired Diana. As she reentered her carriage she was undecided whether to go home or hunt up the third niece.
But it occurred to me we could have nothing in common." "Oh, my dear! You wrong us both." "Do you know my uncle?" enquired Beth. "He is the friend of my father, Mr. Hedrik Von Taer. Our family owes Mr. John Merrick much consideration. Therefore I decided to seek pleasure in the acquaintance of his nieces." The words and tone seemed alike candid. Beth began to relent.
"Do not think me rude, please; but I am scarcely in a position to become a desirable acquaintance of Miss Von Taer." The tone was a trifle bitter, and Diana noted it. A subtile antagonism seemed springing up between them and the more experienced girl scented in this danger to her plans. She must handle this young lady more cautiously than she had Louise Merrick.
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