WhenImogenwenttoherroom，theguestshadbeguntoreturnfromtheirvariousafternoonexcursions。Boyswereglidingthroughthehallswithicewater，coveredtrays，andflowers，collidingwithmaidsandvaletswhocarriedshoesandotherarticlesofwearingapparel。Yet，allthiswasdoneinresponsetoinaudiblebells，onfeltsoles，andinhushedvoices，sothattherewasverylittleconfusionaboutit。
Flaviahadatlastbuiltherhouseandhewnouthersevenpillars；therecouldbenodoubt，now，thattheasylumfortalent，thesanatoriumofthearts，solongprojected，wasanaccomplishedfact。HerambitionhadlongagooutgrownthedimensionsofherhouseonPrairieAvenue；besides，shehadbitterlycomplainedthatinChicagotraditionswereagainsther。
HerprojecthadbeendelayedbyArthur’sdoggedlystandingoutfortheMichiganwoods，butFlaviaknewwellenoughthatcertainoftheraraeaves——“thebest“——couldnotbeluredsofarawayfromtheseaport，soshedeclaredherselfforthehistoricHudsonandknewnoretreat。TheestablishingofaNewYorkofficehadatlengthoverthrownArthur’slastvalidobjectiontoquittingthelakecountryforthreemonthsoftheyear；andArthurcouldbeweariedintoanything，asthosewhoknewhimknew。
Flavia’shousewasthemirrorofherexultation；itwasatempletothegodsofVictory，asortoftriumphalarch。Inherearlierdaysshehadswallowedexperiencesthatwouldhaveunmannedoneoflesstorrentialenthusiasmorblindpertinacity。
But，oflateyears，herdeterminationhadtold；shesawlessandlessofthosemysteriouspersonswithmysteriousobstaclesintheirpathandmysteriousgrievancesagainsttheworld，whohadoncefrequentedherhouseonPrairieAvenue。Inthesteadofthismultitudeoftheunarrived，shehadnowthefew，theselect，“thebest。“OfallthatbandofindigentretainerswhohadoncefedatherboardlikethesuitorsinthehallsofPenelope，onlyAlceeBuissonstillretainedhisrightofentree。Healonehadrememberedthatambitionhathaknapsackathisback，whereinheputsalmstooblivion，andhealonehadbeenconsiderateenoughtodowhatFlaviahadexpectedofhim，andgivehisnameacurrentvalueintheworld。Then，asMissBroadwoodputit，“hewasherfirstrealone，“——andFlavia，likeMohammed，couldrememberherfirstbeliever。