a new circle of friends or else swerve the course of the
present circle into an atmosphere of Ibsen, Pater, advanced feminine
thought, and so on--with Egyptology as a special side line. She would
even become an advocate of parlour socialism, perhaps. She would
encourage languid poets and sarcastic sex novelists with matted hair
and puff satin ties. She would seek out short-haired mannish women
with theories and oodles of unpublished short stories, and feed them
well, opening her house for their drawing-room talks. She would be a
lion tamer! She was done with sighing and tears, belonging to the
first stage of Glorious Girlism; and with pouting and flirting, which
belonged to the second--she would now make them roar, herself
included!

At noon the next day she sought Mary Faithful in her office, to
everyone's surprise. To her own astonishment she discovered her
husband busily engaged in conversation with some members of the Board
of Trade, his travelling bag on a side table.

"I didn't bother to telephone you or wire--I got in at eight this
morning and came right up here. I knew you'd not be up," he added,
curtly. "Would you mind waiting in Miss Faithful's office until I'm at
liberty?"

Beatrice was forced to consent graciously and pass into the other
room, where Mary was giving dictation.

When Mary finished she offered Beatrice a magazine but the Gorgeous
Girl declined it and began in petulant fashion:

"I've been thinking about you, Miss Faithful, and I do envy you. Do
you know why? You have more of my husband than I have; that was what I
came to tell you. For business is his very life and you are his
business partner. I only have the tired remnant that occasionally
wanders homeward."

Mary wondered what Beatrice would say if she knew of the supper talks
she had had with the tired remnant, who flung discretion to the winds
and clamoured for invitations as keenly as he had once begged for the
Gorgeous Girl's kisses.

"Oh, no, that's not true. You see----" she began, but she simply could
not finish the lie.

"I've decided that if business is more important to my husband than
his wedding anniversary I shall be of importance to him in his
business," she continued. "Be careful--you've a rival looming ahead."

Steve opened the door and nodded for his wife to come in. Mary was
left with rather unsteady nerves and a pessimistic attitude to round
out her day. Beatrice's hint had had an unpleasant petty sound that
s