, "no one has peace these days. The whole world is in
a turmoil. Do you think your little Quaker-like girls of Lancaster
County have peace these days?"

"They have peace of mind and conscience."

"But that," he said, "is the peace that touches those who live in
selfish solitude. The virtue that dwells in the hearts of those who
retire into hermitages is a negative virtue."

"You speak like a seer, a philosopher," I told him.

"Like a rational human being, I hope," he said petulantly. "But the
thoughts are not original. I am merely echoing the opinion of sane
thinkers. I have no appreciation of the foolish and useless sacrifice
you are persistently making. We were not put on this planet to be dull
nuns and monks. We have red blood racing through our veins and were not
intended for sluggishness."

"Yes--but----"

He went off peeved at my refusal to do as he wished.

What can I do? Shall I capitulate? I have wrestled with my desire for
pleasure until I'm tired of the struggle. My old contentment has
deserted me. I'm restless and dissatisfied, scarcely knowing what is
right or wrong.

_Next day._

I'm happy again. Being on the fence grows mighty uncomfortable after a
while, so I jumped across. I have decided to become a butterfly!

I had luncheon to-day with Virginia. She had to run off to one of her
Bridge Clubs so I offered to mend the lace on one of her gowns while she
was gone. I was alone in the sitting-room that adjoins Virginia's
bedroom. I love that little sitting-room. Virginia and I spend many
happy hours in it when we want to get away from everybody and have a
long chat. I like its big comfortable winged chairs by the cheery open
fire.

I dreamed a while before the fire, the gown across my knees. It's a pink
gown, that scarcely defined pink of a sea shell. Virginia had often
tempted me to try it on and see how well I'd look in a dress of that
kind. The temptation came to do it. I jumped up in sudden determination.
I _would_ put it on! I'd see for once how I looked in a real gown. I ran
to Virginia's room to the low dressing table. My hands trembled as I
opened the tight coils of my hair and shook it until it seemed to nod
exultingly. I fluffed the curls loosely over my forehead and twisted the
hair into a fashionable knot. Then I took off my plain blue serge dress
and slipped the pink one over my head. The soft draperies clung to me,
the go