how up," her
father admitted, drolly. "She is tired to death--so you'll find her at
home, my boy, with a box of candy and the latest novel. Belle was
talking her head off when I left the house and the girls keep calling
her on the telephone for those little three-quarters-of-an-hour hello
talks. It seems to me that for rich girls, my daughter and her friends
are the busiest, most tired women I ever knew--and yet do the least."
He put on his hat and waited for Steve to open the door.

"I don't pretend to understand them," Steve answered. "Maybe that's
why I'm so happy. Bea fusses if the shade of draperies doesn't match
her gown, and if Monster has a snarl in her precious hair it is cause
for a tragedy. But I just grin and go along and presently she has
forgotten all about it."

"I tried to get that young woman helper of yours to help me fix up
Bea's things," Constantine complained. "Let's walk to the club--my
knees are going stiff on me."

"Well?"

"She looked round the apartment and plain refused to put away another
woman's pots and pans. It was just spunk. I don't know that I blame
her. So Belle got that low order of animal life----"

"Meaning Gaylord?"

"Yes; and now the husband, I understand, of one of your thinnest clad
and thinnest brained former clerks. Gay was in his element; he kept
the machine working overtime and flattered Belle until he had
everything his own way. Yet Beatrice seems quite satisfied with his
achievements."

"You must have been hanging round the house this morning."

"I couldn't get down to brass tacks," he admitted. "You've had her
all summer--but you can bet your clothes you wouldn't have had her
if I hadn't been willing." He slapped Steve on the shoulder
good-naturedly.

Steve nodded briskly. Then he suggested: "Bea has the New York idea
rather strong. Has she ever hinted it to you?"

"Don't let that flourish, Steve. Kill it at the start. She knew better
than to try to wheedle me into going. I'm smarter than most of the men
round these parts but I'd be fleeced properly by the New York band of
highbinders if I tried to go among them. And you're not as good at the
game as I am. Not----" He paused as if undecided how much would be
best to tell Steve. He evidently decided that generalities would be
the wisest arguments, so he continued: "Don't wince--it's the truth,
and there must be no secrets between us from now on. Besides, you're
in love and you can't concentrate absolutely. My