andards prevail."

Sue did not seem to hear. "All these years you've talked to me about
the home--the home with a capital H. Your home--which you'd 'kept
together'--the American home--wave the flag! And I've always believed
that you meant what you said. But today I understand your real
attitude. First, because you weren't willing to give that poor
cornered girl a chance at one. You intruded into her room and
deliberately drove her away."

"She ran away once from a good home with a good man." She paid Farvel
the compliment unconsciously--and unintentionally.

"Then consider my case,"--it was as if Sue were speaking to herself.
"Why haven't you given me a chance? For all these years, if a man
looked cross-eyed at me, was he ever asked to call on us?"

"Such nonsense!"

"If he did, somehow or other there was trouble. You would cry, and say
I didn't love you--or you pretended to find something wrong with him,
and he didn't come again. And once--once I remember that you claimed
that you were ill--though I think I guessed that you weren't--and away
we went for a change of air. Oh, peace at any price!"

Mrs. Milo grew scarlet. "Ha!" she scoffed. "So _I'm_ to blame for
your not being married! I've stood in your way!"

"Just think how you've acted today--the way you acted over this
dress--you can't bear to see me look well? Why?--Yes, you've stood in
my way from the very first."

"I deny it! _You'd_ better look in the mirror." She picked it up and
held it out to Sue. "You know, you're not a sweet young thing."

Sue took the glass, and held it before her, gazing sadly at her
reflection. "No," she answered. "But I can remember when I was
sweet--and young." She laid the mirror down.

Mrs. Milo felt the necessity of toning her remarks. She spoke now with
no rancor--but firmly. "Your lack of judgment was excusable then," she
declared. "But now--this interest in any and every child--in Farvel, a
man younger than yourself--it's silly, Sue. It's disgusting--in an old
maid."

"Any and every child," repeated Sue. "Oh, selfish! Selfish! Selfish!"

"No one can accuse me of that! I've been trying to save you from
making yourself ridiculous."

"To save me! Why, mother, you can't bear to see me give one hour to
those poor, deserted orphans. If I go over to see them, you go along.
And how many friends have I? Every thought I have must be for you!
you! you!"

"I have exacted the attention that a