anna?"

"What nonsense are you talking, Rose?"

"Of course, it is nonsense; and yet I might die--or commit suicide--or
something. If anything happened to you, I would take little Harry and
make him my very own. Would you take little Emma if anything happened
to me? I might die."

"My dear Rose, you are not likely to die."

"I know I am not--but things happen."

"What things?"

"Accidents--and such things. One never knows. It does seem a silly
thing to ask, but I have a sudden feeling about it, Yanna. If I should
die--or anything should happen--you are to take Emma and bring her up
to be good--I mean pious--I mean not like her poor, silly mother. How
absurd I am! Whatever is the matter with me? Am I going to be ill, I
wonder? Am I going to have a fever?"

"I saw you yesterday on Broadway. What a pretty suit you had on! Mr.
Duval was with you."

"Mr. Duval! Yes. I had forgotten. Yes, I met Dick as I came out of a
store, and we walked up a block to Twenty-third Street. Do you know
that store under the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where they sell such lovely
jewelry? I was going there."

"I do not think Antony would like you to go anywhere with Mr. Duval."

"Antony will just have to dislike it then. He has gone as far as I
intend to let him. The past two weeks he has wanted me to sit by the
cradle, day and night, and night and day. I love my child, but I do
want a breath of fresh air sometimes."

"I was speaking of Mr. Duval."

"Harry has also been speaking of Mr. Duval this morning. I told Harry
to mind his own affairs. I say the same to you, Yanna. It is too much,
when a married woman cannot speak to an old friend, cannot walk three
or four blocks with him, without having her whole family suspect her
immediately of breaking--or at least cracking--the ten commandments."

"You know how Antony feels about that Duval."

"I know Antony is an idiot about him. I know his behavior has been
shameful to 'that Duval.' Poor Dick! What has the man done but dare
admire me? A cat may look at a king. Many women would give Antony a
lesson on that subject--they would not be accused for nothing."

"But not you, Rose! Not you, dear Rose! Do not be impatient. Baby will
soon be well, and Antony does love you so----"

"Do hush, Yanna! Antony loves nothing about me. But I must go now, or
else I shall get another scolding for leaving baby so long; or a look
worse than words; or silence, and Antony ostentatiously walking Emma
up and do