wing-room as usual.

"Hooray!" she cried, genuinely pleased because he had been worried as
to that and this would mean a cheery walk. "What is it? Is it good?"

"Couldn't be better," he replied, and as usual she missed the irony.
He paused and then; "_Was It Worth While?_"

"Oh, Hugh," she could not help exclaiming. "That _isn't_ the title?"

"Don't you like it?" he enquired sardonically and let himself down
cheerily upon the sofa.

Helena of late had begun to express quite elaborate opinions even to
Hubert, who somehow always terrified her, rather, when it came to
intellect. He was so much cleverer, she knew, and never seemed to take
her views as anything except a joke. She always spoke a little
timidly. He would have been surprised to hear how cleverly she talked
to Alison and others. But that is true of many married couples.

"No," she began slowly. "It's so--I don't know, but--well, so cheap.
All your others were so dignified and simple; I think _Wandering Stars_
was simply excellent; but this--it sort of reminds me of those plays
with names like _Did She Do It?_ You know what I mean!"

Hubert smiled grimly. "You seem to think I'm trying to be dignified.
Not a bit of it: we're out for money! Money, my dear Helena: no more
worry about bills, and our own motor-car!" She could not bring herself
to be amused and he went on more moodily: "Do you imagine any woman
wants novels with titles that are dignified? and men aren't fools
enough to read them. Of course you picked out my best seller for your
argument; but look at _The Bread of Idleness_. That was dignified
enough and splendidly reviewed and sold two thousand copies; just about
a hundred pounds for me for one year's work! No thanks, I've done with
dignity, _pro tem_. There may be just about two thousand women with a
taste in dignity, but I want all the shop-girls this time: I'm out for
my hundred thousand! I want them when they go to the seaside library
and pay their twopences to notice _Was It Worth While?_ in big letters
on a purple ground. That'll make them think! No more dignity for me:
you want to make them think, to make them wonder "Why?" I'd call the
book _Why Smith Left Home_, if only it was new."

She did not answer for a few moments: then she said very gently but
with a new firmness; "Hugh dear, is it really necessary to do all this?
Can't we just go on as we have been doing? I dare say I could manage
better, really, and I've o