re money we have the more we owe to social position. I have a
great mind to suspend payment for a while and let social position go to
smash. I detest a reception. I don't mind a nice little gathering of
good friendly folks such as we used to have in Degraw street at the
church socials--"

"Church socials!"

His wife's interruption took Hilbrough's breath. She muttered rather
than spoke these few words, but with a contemptuousness of inflection
that was most expressive. Hilbrough was left in some doubt as to whether
all the contempt was intended for the church socials in Degraw street,
or whether a part of it might not be meant for a husband whose mind had
not kept pace with his fortune.

"I am sure there was real enjoyment in a church social," he said, with a
deprecating laugh, "to say nothing of the money raised to recarpet the
church aisles. And I confess I rather enjoyed the party you gave in
Oxford street when Dr. North got back from the Holy Land."

While Hilbrough was making this speech his wife had, by dumb show,
ordered the waitress to take something down-stairs, in order that there
might be no listener to Hilbrough's autobiographical reminiscences but
herself.

"Well, my dear," she said, taking a conciliatory tone, "our walk in life
has changed, and we must adapt ourselves to our surroundings. You know
you always said that we ought to do our share toward promoting
sociability."

"Sociability!" It was Hilbrough's turn now. His laugh had a note of
derision in it. "W'y, my dear, there is rather more sociability in a
cue of depositors at the teller's window of an afternoon than there was
at Mrs. Master's reception last winter."

"Well, don't let's argue. I hate arguments of all things."

"Most people do, when they get the worst of them," rejoined Hilbrough,
merrily.

"You are positively rude," pouted Mrs. Hilbrough, rising from the table.
If she hated arguments, her husband hated tiffs, and her look of
reproach accomplished what her arguments could not. Hilbrough knew that
at the game of injured innocence he was no match for his wife. The
question in his mind now was to find a line of retreat.

"You ought to have more consideration for my feelings, Warren," she went
on. "Besides, you know you said that whatever widened our acquaintance
was likely to do the bank good. You know you did."

"So I did, my dear; so I did," he answered, soothingly, as he rose from
the table and looked at his watch. "There's