ell from their lips? Now you have
a mother and sisters who think well of you, no doubt: how would you have
felt to have had any one of them peep in that night and see what manner
of company you were in? My mother is in her grave, but maybe she could
see where I was and with whom I was that evening, and the thought makes
me feel mean. I have a sister, one of the purest and sweetest little
women God ever blessed the earth with, and not for all that I can earn
in one year would I have her know what a foolish thing I did. For two
days I was so ashamed of myself I felt miserably."

Frank sat in stupefied silence at his friend's outburst. "If I had
imagined you were going to feel that way, old man," he said at last, "I
would never have urged you to go with me. I never will again, I assure
you."

"Oh, I am as much to blame as you," observed Albert. "I went willingly,
but after it was all over I was sorry I did. I am no prude, I enjoy a
little excitement and don't mind a social evening with a few friends,
but it doesn't pay to do things you despise yourself for the next day."

"But," put in his friend with a quizzical look, "do you know you are
preaching a sermon, and I rather enjoy it, too? It sets me thinking. As
for such girls as we wined, I don't care a rap for them. If I could find
any other and better amusement, they might go hang for all I care. What
you say of them is true enough, and I agree with you they are a
profitless lot of trash, but what is a fellow going to do to kill time?
I try tennis and golf with fellows and girls in our set, but that is
tame sport. I go to 'functions' once in a while, and if I dance twice
with a pretty girl who has no _dot_, mother glares at me, and says I've
no family pride. Most of the girls talk silly nonsense that wearies a
fellow, and the more _passe_ they are the worse they gush. The only
thing I really enjoy that is respectable is yachting, and then I have
trouble to find good fellows who have time to go with me. Once in a
while I get disgusted with myself, and wish I had to work for a living."

Albert looked surprised. Was it possible that this young and handsome
fellow, with dark brown honest eyes, curly black hair, and garb and
manner of refinement, who never had known what it was to work, really
wanted to earn his own way in the world, just from sheer _ennui_?

"Frank," he said at last, "you ought to be ashamed to talk so. You have
plenty of money, nothing to do but enjoy yo