ike a dumb beast of burden.

"MOST evenings," assented Aggie. "And then toward the last, you know,
Zoie----" she hesitated to explain further, for Jimmy was already
becoming visibly embarrassed.

"Oh, yes, that's true," blushed Zoie.

There was an awkward pause, then Aggie turned again toward Jimmy, who
was pretending to rebuild the fire. "Oh yes, one more thing," she said.
"When everything is quite ready for Alfred's return, we'll allow you,
Jimmy dear, to wire him the good news."

"Thanks, so much," said Jimmy.

"I wish it were time to wire now," said Zoie pensively, and in his mind,
Jimmy fervently agreed with that sentiment.

"The next few months will slip by before you know it," declared Aggie
cheerfully. "And by the way, Zoie," she added, "why should you go back
to your lonesome flat to-night?"

Zoie began to feel for her pocket handkerchief--Jimmy sat up to receive
the next blow. "Stay here with us," suggested Aggie. "We'll be so glad
to have you." She included Jimmy in her glance. "Won't we, dear?" she
asked.

When the two girls went upstairs arm in arm that night, Jimmy remained
in his chair by the fire, too exhausted to even prepare for bed. "A man
of mettle!" he said again to himself.

This had certainly been the longest day of his life.

CHAPTER XII

WHEN Aggie predicted that the few months of waiting would pass quickly
for Zoie, she was quite correct. They passed quickly for Aggie as well;
but how about Jimmy? When he afterward recalled this interval in his
life, it was always associated with long strands of lace winding around
the legs of the library chairs, white things lying about in all the
places where he had once enjoyed sitting or lying, late dinners, lonely
breakfasts, and a sense of isolation from Aggie.

One evening when he had waited until he was out of all patience with
Aggie, he was told by his late and apologetical spouse that she had been
helping Zoie to redecorate her bedroom to fit the coming occasion.

"It is all done in pink and white," explained Aggie, and then followed
detailed accounts of the exquisite bed linens, the soft lovely hangings,
and even the entire relighting of the room.

"Why pink?" asked Jimmy, objecting to any scheme of Zoie's on general
principles.

"It's Alfred's favourite colour," explained Aggie. "Besides, it's so
becoming," she added.

Jimmy could not help feeling that this lure to Alfred's senses was
absolutely indecent, and he said so.