habby, well-read books, carefully chosen pictures,
dull rugs, and oddly shaped lamps, a shaggy old dog to lie before the
open fireplace and be patted occasionally, fat blue jugs of Ragged
Robin roses at frequent intervals. Perhaps there would be a baby's toy
left somewhere along the stairway leading to the nursery. When one has
the cool of a summer's night, a porch screened with roses and a
comfortable swing, what does it matter if there are unlikable persons
and china-shop apartment houses?

Had Mary known what was taking place in the front parlour it would not
have jarred her from her dreams. For Gaylord, resplendent in ice-cream
flannels, and Trudy, wearing an unpaid-for black-satin dress with red
collar and cuffs, were both busier than the proverbial beaver planning
their wedding. It was to be an informal and unexpected little affair,
being the direct result of the Gorgeous Girl's demands as to settling
her household.

"You've no idea how jolly easy it was, Babseley. There was a dressing
case I know Bea will keep--it brought me a cool hundred commission--it
had just come in. I plunged and bought two altar scarfs she can use
for her reading stand--she likes such things, besides all the
bona-fide orders. I've been working for fair--and I've made over a
thousand dollars."

Trudy kissed Bubseley between his pale little eyes. "You Lamb! Sure
you won't have to give it back or that they will tell?"

"Of course not! They'd give their own selves away. That's the way such
things are always done, y'know. I've an idea that I'll go in seriously
for the business by and by. I don't feel any compunction; I'm entitled
to every cent of it; in fact, I call it cheap for Bea at a thousand."

"But will they really pay you?" Trudy was skeptical. It seemed such a
prodigious amount for buying a few trifles.

"The Constantine credit is like the Bank of England. I'll have my
money and we'll make our getaway before Bea arrives in town."

"Why?" Trudy did not approve of this. The contrast between her
marriage and the Gorgeous Girl's wedding rankled.

Gay hesitated. "I want to go to New York and see concert managers and
father's friends," he evaded. "Then we'll visit my sister in
Connecticut as long as she'll have us. And when we come back--well,
you'll--you'll know the smart ways better."

He was a trifle afraid of Trudy and he did not know how best to advise
her that her slips in speech and manners would be more easily remedied
by s