were, indeed, sudden, inexplicable
moments when she longed weakly to give herself up to the alluring
blissfulness of Kersley's kisses on her soft lips, no matter how
unpractical he was. But she was too stanchly eager to do what was best
for him to give way in the conduct of life; it was even a giddy sort of
thing that she had given way to him in anything.

* * * * *

If a nervous and uncertain hilarity characterized the atmosphere of the
dinner table that night, Mrs. Devereaux, in her black lace and diamonds,
was happily unaware of its cause in the antics of the obsequious butler,
who in the intervals of his calling threw kisses from behind the guest
to the yellow-gowned Marcia, attempted to poise in the attitude of
flight or that of benediction, or indulged in other pantomimes as
extraordinary.

It was almost a relief when the intervals between the courses were
unduly prolonged and conversation could proceed without spasmodic jerks
on the part of the entertainers. Mrs. Devereaux herself, a rather
slight, elderly woman with soft white hair elaborately arranged, and
kind, brown eyes, responded with evident pleasure to Marcia's pretty,
childlike warmth, and was politely cordial to Frank and Kitty. Her
manner was at once quietly assured and quietly unassuming, although on
her entrance her eyes had seemed furtively observant, as one who found
herself among strange, if interesting, surroundings.

"I feel as if we might be Eskimos, by Jove!" Frank Fosdyke whispered
with a secret gurgle to his wife, who responded only with an agonized
"Hush!"

"This omelet is really delicious," said Mrs. Devereaux, kindly, in one
of the pauses of the dinner. "I don't know that I have eaten one as good
since I left Paris. May I ask if you have a woman or a man cook?"

"We have a man in the kitchen," said Marcia, unblushingly, Kersley being
out there at the moment. "He has lived in Paris."

"Oh, the touch was unmistakable!" said Mrs. Devereaux. She turned
graciously to Kitty. "I take a great interest in small establishments;
my niece, Angela Homestead, is about to marry in moderate circumstances.
Unlike many women in society, I have always looked after my own
household. When I am at home the servants report to me for half an hour
every morning to receive their orders for the day. So when Angela
naturally came to me for advice, I said to her: 'Above all things,
Angela, remember that a good cook is always wo