too much. She forgot the careful plan
of campaign which she had intended to follow in this interview, and now
interrupted in her turn. And Captain Elisha, who also was something of a
strategist, smiled at the fire.

"We do have our social duties, our duties to society," snapped the
widow, hotly. "They are necessary ones. Having been born--or risen to--a
certain circle, we recognize the responsibilities attached to it. We
_are_ careful with whom we associate; we have to be. As for dress, we
dress as others of our friends do."

"And maybe a little better, if you can, hey?"

"If we can--yes. I presume--" with crushing irony--"dress in South
Denboro counts but little."

"You wouldn't say that if you ever went to sewin' circle," with a
chuckle. "Still, compared to the folks at your meetin'-house this
morning, our congregation would look like a flock of blackbirds
alongside of a cage full of Birds of Paradise. But most of us--the women
folks especial--dress as well as we can."

"As well as you can!" triumphantly. "There! you see? And you live as
well as you can, don't you?"

"If you mean style, why, we don't set as much store by it as you do."

"Nonsense! We are obliged to be," with a slight shudder at the
vulgarism, "_stylish_. If we should lapse, if we should become shabby
and behind the fashion or live in that way, people would wonder and
believe it was because we could not afford to do otherwise."

"Well, s'pose they did, you'd know better yourselves. Can't you be
independent?"

"No. Not unless you are very, very rich; then it might be considered an
eccentricity. Independence is a costly luxury, and few can afford it."

"But suppose you can't afford the other thing?"

"Then we must pretend we can. Oh, you _don't_ understand! So _much_
depends upon a proper appearance. Everything depends upon it--one's
future, one's children's future--everything."

"Humph!" with the same irritating smile, "I should think that might mean
some plannin'. And plans, the best of 'em, are likely to go wrong. You
talk about the children in your--in what you call your 'circle.' How can
you plan what they'll do? You might when they was little, perhaps; but
when they grow up it's different."

"It is not. It _can't_ be! And, if they have been properly reared and
understand their responsibilities, they plan with you."

"Land sakes! You mean--why, s'pose they take a notion to get married?
I'm an old bach, of course, but the average you