the apartment comfortable? Does Michael
do everything you wish? Did the cat prove a good one? I sent
for the best Angora to be had from the Silver Cloud Cattery.

"Now tell me, Athalie, what can I do for you? _Please!_ What
is it you need; what is it you would like to have? Are you
saving part of your salary?

"Tell me also what you do with yourself after business hours.
Have you seen any shows? I suppose you go out with your
sisters now and then.

"As for me I go about more or less. For a while I didn't:
business seemed to revive and everybody in real estate became
greatly excited. But it all simmered down again to the usual
routine. So I've been going about to various affairs, dances
and things. And, consequently, there's peace and quiet at
home for me.
"Always yours,
"C BAILEY, JR."

"P.S. As I sit here writing you the desire seizes me to drop
my pen, put on my hat and coat and go to see you. But I
can't. There's a dinner on here, and I've got to stay for it.
Good night, dear Athalie!
"CLIVE."

His answer came by return mail as usual:

"DEAR CLIVE,

"Your letter has troubled me so much. If your mother feels
that way about me, what are we to do? Is it right for us to
see each other?

"It is true that I am not conscious of any wrong in seeing
you and in being your friend. I know that I never had an
unworthy thought concerning you. And I feel confident that
your thoughts regarding our friendship and me are blameless.
Where lies the wrong?

"_Some_ aspects of the affair _have_ troubled me lately.
Please do not be sensitive and take offence, Clive, if I
admit to you that I never have quite reconciled myself to
accepting anything from you.

"What I have accepted has been for your own sake--for the
pleasure you found in giving, not for my own sake.

"I wanted only your friendship. That was enough--more than
enough to make me happy and contented.

"I was not in want; I had sufficient; I lived better than I
had ever lived; I was self-reliant, self-supporting,
and--forgive and understand me, Clive--a little more
self-respecting than I now am.

"It is true I had saved very little; but I am young and life
is before me.

"This seems very ungrateful of me, very ungenerous after all
you have done for me